The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the state Commissioner of Police to order the immediate arrest of a Fulani Leader, Seriki Chumo in Iwajowa Local Government for allegedly masterminding the killing of a farmer, two members of Odua People’s Congress, OPC and personnel of the Amotekun Corp during a crisis that engulfed Iwere-Ile in October, 2023.
The call was contained in the report presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Security and Strategy, Hon. Daud Al-Ameen Olalere representing Ibadan North West at the plenary during the week.
The incident occurred on Sunday 15th October, 2023 at Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa Local Government area of Oyo State.
According to the report, the call for the arrest of Seriki Chumo became imperative following the discovery of used cartridges in his house.
The Seriki is also alleged to be engaging in a gun running business.
It will be recalled that member representing Iwajowa State Constituency, Hon. Ogunsola Anthony Oladejo had brought the incident before the Oyo State House of Assembly under a Matter of Urgent Public Importance.
“Trouble reportedly started on Sunday, 15th October, 2023 when some Fulani herdsmen whose cattle invaded a farm in Apakolo village in Iwere-Ile killed the farm owner, Mr. Kege Mayowa when he challenged the invaders.
“On Sunday, Mr. Kege Mayowa, an Ohori farmer was murdered on his farmland at Apakolo village by yet-to-be-arrested Fulani herdsmen, after the late farmer challenged his killer when the herders were feeding cows on the farm.
“After the killing, a team of joint security agents comprising Operation Burst, Police, Amotekun LG Vigilante, and members of Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, were alerted and immediately mobilized to the scene.
“But on sighting the team of security operatives, the herdsmen opened fire and this resulted in the death of Mr Ojo Yakubu (Amotekun operative), Mr Wasiu Salau a.k.a Federal, and Mr. Akeem Iroko.
“The herdsmen also wounded another Amotekun officer, Mr Kazeem Hammed; Mr Muraina Jamie, a resident at Apakolo while leaving many others receiving treatment at different undisclosed hospitals.
“The crisis escalated on Monday 16th October, 2023.” The report read
The House, while commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident, called for full investigation into the matter in order to bring all suspects and criminals involved to justice.
It equally appealed to security agents especially the Amotekun corps to engage in regular patrol of identified hideouts of criminal herders and Fulani bandits in the Local Government and the neighbouring settlements to forestall future occurrence.
Other recommendations include “That the Oyo State House of Assembly should put necessary machinery in motion towards coordinating a security summit so as to proffer lasting solutions to the incidences of security breaches and criminalities in the state.
“Traditional rulers particularly in Oke-ogun axis of the state urged to always conduct proper investigation and documentation before allocating lands to strange herders.”
In their contributions, Oyo State lawmakers condemned in strong terms the incessant attacks and killings of innocent farmers by Fulani herders in local and agrarian communities in Ogbomosho, Oyo, Ibarapa and Oke-ogun areas of the state.
They called on Governors of South West states to put measures in place towards empowering and equipping the Amotekun Corps to enable them to deal with the excesses and criminal activities of the Fulani herders and bandits across Yoruba land.
Packaged by Adekunle Adegboyega
