Eredo Traditional Rulers Move To Check Herders Criminal Activities

By Babatunde Kaka

The Traditional Rulers in Eredo LCDA, Epe Division, Lagos State, have begun to hold round table discussion with the Hausa/Fulani community resident in the LCDA to fashion out ways to forestall crimes of any sort from their members as being experienced in the other Southwest States.

The meeting is coming on the heels of the rising tension between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the south-west over the nefarious activities of the herders.

 

The herders have been accused of being responsible for the wanton killing and pervasive kidnapping in Yorubaland, a development that has led to issuance of eviction notice to them in Ondo and Oyo.

 

The meeting which held at the Royal Palace of the Aladeshonyin and Paramount Ruler of Odo-Noforija Kingdom was chaired by Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, The Alara of Ilara kingdom.

According to sources who are familiar with the development, the meeting became imperative due to the proximity of Eredo LCDA to Ogun state which has been a hotbed of heinous herders activities.

HRM Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja JP. FMBE Hons, The Aladeshonyin and Paramount Ruler of Odo-Noforija Kingdom, HRM Oba Kolawole Aliru, Alade Uraka of Poka, HRM Oba Mufutau Ogunnukan, Adegbajo of Odo-Gbawojo, and Chief M Badejo, The Odofin of Odo-Noforija Kingdom were also in attendance.

Other security agents present include the Head of DSS, Epe Annex, Head of Military Personnel in Eredo LCDA and the DPO, Odo-Noforija Divisional Police Headquarters, Eredo LCDA.

Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, advised to the Hausa/Fulani members to always support their host communities in maintaining, peace, law and order. Oba Ogunsanwo stated in clear terms that it would be a disservice on the host community if the Hausa/Fulani members resident in the LCDA harbours fleeing criminals in their midst.

While he admonished them to provide useful information whenever such cases arise, he also emphasised that anyone who is not in the LCDA database must be reported to the appropriate quarters.

Speaking further, Oba Ogunsanwo revealed that intelligence reports at the disposal of Traditional Rulers and other Activists from the Southwest have it that herders no longer graze their cattle during the day but at midnight.

While questioning the motive behind such a grazing style, he noted that Traditional leaders would not fold their arms and leave their subjects at the mercy of criminal herdsmen. He also wondered why the herders would leave their abode from the far North only to come to the Southwest and commit heinous crimes, using Cattle trade as camouflage. He therefore categorically stated that it was very rare for Yoruba traders in the North to act in such dastardly manner and that the Yoruba Traditional Institutions will do everything possible to discourage such acts from their subjects.

Similarly, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, the Aladeshonyin and Paramount Ruler of Odo-Noforija Kingdom in support of Oba Ogunsanwo reemphasized the need to assist security agencies in fishing out bad eggs amongst the herdsmen noting that whoever is found as criminal accomplice would be sent packing.

Oba Ogunlaja and other Traditional Rulers further bestowed kudos to the Hausa/Fulani members for their unflinching support and cooperation while investigating cattle rustlers who attacked Otedola Farms in Odo-Iragunshen last year. He revealed that their support proved influential as the cattle wrestlers were traced to Ogbere in Ogun State while on their way to Ondo State, where were they were finally arrested and handed over to the Police.

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