Ogun: Tension Mounts In Yewa Community Over Herdsmen Presence 

… Group Issues Strong Warning to Herdsmen

By Ayo Kehinde

 

Governor Ibikunle Amosun

 

Groups in Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State under the aegis of Yewa Connecting Minds (YCM), have alerted the security agencies and the public to the  activities of herdsman whom they say “had been on rampage in the Yewa land, lately, killing and molesting natives, as well as destroying farm crops with their cattle.”

The body said that their activities were no more acceptable.

The warning is contained in a statement by the coordinator of the group, Prince Ekunola Gbenga issued after its emergency meeting yesterday in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State. It was also signed by Kusoro Jeremiah, Secretary of the group.

Ekunola stated that the presence of herdsmen in the community had heightened tension.

According to him, “Just last week, on Yewa Soil, a farmer was killed and another one was also killed in Imeko Afon by herdsmen, while protecting their farms, which were eventually   set on fire, an act that aggravated the anger in members of Yewa Connecting Minds. We condemn this inhumane and barbaric activities of the herdsmen in Yewaland and urge the government to intervene so that there would be no beak down of law and order in our land.”

Prince Ekunola stated that the people of Yewa communities were under a siege and the people could no longer go about their economic, social and religious activities again, stating that his members would not fold their arm and watch their means of livelihood destroyed.

Ekunola said: “Farming is my people’s mainstay. The herdsmen rearing cattle here have created too many problems, including killing of innocent people. They also defile our women and destroy their crops while grazing. They must leave if they cannot live here peacefully”

“We appreciate the efforts of Ogun State Government led by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ssecurity agencies for their efforts so far but we are appealing to the herdsmen and their sponsors to stop all inhumane acts. We restate that the state and the federal government to come to their aid and bring an end to the attacks by herdsmen who according to them, usually destroy their farmland.”