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Leaders and residents of 8 communities in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to a group of Fulani herdsmen they accused of posing security and environmental concerns in the area.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the affected communities, located around the Samaday area, are Ibapon Are Oluwamodupe, Ayedire, Mercy Land, Estate, Irewolede, Ona Igbala, Ifesowapo and Grace Land.
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The ultimatum was issued at a security meeting held on Monday involving community leaders, representatives of Ogbomoso Parapo, the Seriki Fulani in Ibapon and the affected herders.
The development comes amid heightened security concerns in parts of the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone, following reported cases of kidnapping, including an incident in Oloka village.
Community leaders also cited the recent abduction of 39 students and 7 teachers in communities in Oriire Local Government Area as part of the security concerns informing their decision to act against unfamiliar persons settling in the area.
Baale Ibapon, Ashifat Akanji, who announced the ultimatum on behalf of the communities, said the herders must leave within 48 hours.
He said the communities had long-standing relationships with Fulani residents in the area but were concerned about the presence of the newly arrived group, whom they said they did not know.
Akanji said the communities had previously held security discussions with the Commissioner of Police, who advised them to be vigilant about unfamiliar persons within their communities.
“We don’t know them. We have Fulanis who have been living with us here, whose head is Idowu, whom we issued ID cards. But these ones, we are unfamiliar with them,” he said.
He added that the communities would continue to abide by the law but would not wait until a security incident occurred before taking preventive measures.
Chairman of the 8 communities, Alagbe Oyebamiji, also accused the herders’ livestock of destroying farms and damaging septic tanks, while alleging that their presence had created sanitation and environmental concerns.
He said residents had previously reported the matter to law enforcement authorities, who drove the herders away, but that they later returned.
Chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo, Prince Aderemi Olude, said the organisation intervened after receiving complaints from the affected communities.
Olude said the herders initially claimed they had permission from the Baale Ibapon to occupy the area, but the traditional ruler denied granting such approval.
According to him, the herders subsequently claimed that they had obtained permission from the Seriki Fulani in the area, Alhaji Idowu, who also denied authorising their settlement.
He said a broader meeting was therefore convened, after which the 48-hour ultimatum was issued.
Olude said the communities would take further steps in accordance with the law if the herders failed to leave after the expiration of the ultimatum.
He urged residents to report suspicious developments to security agencies, stressing that early reporting was essential to preventing potential security threats.
The community leaders said the action was intended to protect lives and property while maintaining existing peaceful relationships with law-abiding residents and herders in the area.
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