The properties of Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, in Ibarapa North Local Government Area, have been allegedly set ablaze on Friday night by irate Yoruba agitators.
Sunday Adeyemo, an agitator for Oodua Republic, better known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday visited some Oyo communities to confirm compliance of Fulani people with the seven-day ultimatum he had given them last Thursday to leave Ibarapa and Igangan areas of Oyo State.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has ordered the Police to arrest Sunday Igboho and others causing tension in the state.
Makinde declared that his government would not allow anyone hiding under the guise of protecting Yoruba interests to cause ethnic tension and perpetrate crisis.
Igboho, while addressing the people in a video shared online during his visit to the Igangan community said, “The Fulani have gone, we have sent them out of our land and they cannot come back again. Kidnappers cannot rule over us, they can’t take over our land from us. It belongs to us; they should stop threatening.
“Those who live with us peacefully; we are not fighting them but how will a visitor claim one’s house from him. If you live with us in peace, we have no problem with you but if you decide to kidnap and kill us, we don’t want you here. I assure Yoruba people, particularly those in Oyo State, that there is no danger.
“This one we have started here in Oyo State will not end here. We are going to other parts of the South-West. Tell Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti State, Ondo State and Osun States; in fact, in all South-West states that they should get ready for us because we are coming.”
Also, the Seriki Fulani, Abdulkadir, has called for help from the government; saying despite assurance by the police and the people of the state, his house was burnt in the presence of security agents.
He said, “As we speak, we are in the bush. Our cars, numbering about 11, have been burnt. Some of my children sustained injuries and we are looking for a way to get them to hospital. My children have left their houses for the bush. We need the government to help us. Police, Operation Burst and other security agencies were there when they set my house ablaze.”
But Sunday Igboho maintained that Fulani who are killing Yoruba people must leave the state, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to call his Fulani’s people to order.
“Buhari should come and evacuate his people from our land, we don’t want them again. They are just punishing the youths; they have turned us to nothing, why? The educated youth don’t have jobs, nothing, the gain now is to kill and kidnap us. We are still on the unemployment issue, we have accepted our fate, should we not be in peace and enjoy security again? It’s enough,” he said.
