Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has once again called for the expulsion of armed Fulani herders from the South-West region of Nigeria.
This new eviction notice, announced on July 15, 2024, is the second of its kind issued by Igboho, highlighting the intensifying hostilities and criminal activities plaguing the area.
Igboho’s move comes amid a resurgence in banditry, kidnappings, and violent crimes that have plagued the region despite previous efforts to curb these issues.
The Yoruba freedom fighter had initially made headlines during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari when he launched a campaign urging violent herders to leave the South-West.
This initial campaign led to a significant backlash from the Buhari administration, culminating in a raid on Igboho’s Ibadan residence.
Though Igboho narrowly escaped capture, several of his aides were killed, and he was later detained in the Niger Republic for several years before being released through the intervention of prominent Yoruba leaders.
Despite the temporary reduction in violence that followed Igboho’s first eviction notice, the problem has resurfaced, prompting Igboho to issue another call for the removal of armed herders.
In an audio message relayed by his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, Igboho demanded that all Fulani herders involved in criminal activities in Oke Ogun and surrounding areas vacate immediately. “Today is the 15th of July, 2024.
All Fulani people living in Oke Ogun, who are kidnappers and killers, are immediately ordered to leave now,” Koiki stated.
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has voiced strong support for Igboho’s recent actions.
Abagun Kole Omololu, Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, praised Igboho for his proactive stance against criminal elements masquerading as herders.
Omololu emphasised that Igboho’s actions are backed by local kings and chiefs and deemed necessary to ensure the safety of farmers and residents.
He also criticized the destruction of farms and other criminal activities as acts of sabotage against the government, urging regional security forces to undertake joint patrols to enforce laws against open grazing.
However, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has urged caution, advising Igboho to allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration time to address the situation.
Chief Oladipo Oyewole, the YCE Secretary-General, suggested that the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development should be given a chance to demonstrate its effectiveness before any further aggressive actions are taken.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Yoruba people and waiting for the government’s response to the problem.
Adding to the discourse, Oba Nureni Akintola, National President of the Soludero Hunters Association, cautioned against unilateral actions, advocating instead for collaborative efforts with local security forces to address criminal activities.
Akintola highlighted the necessity of distinguishing between criminal elements and longstanding Fulani residents who have integrated into Yoruba communities over the years.
On a broader scale, Chief Jimoh Olawale Taofeek, Founder and National President of the Oduduwa United Peoples Association (ODUPA) Worldwide, has called for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria.
He argued that neither Igboho’s eviction notice nor YCE’s cautionary advice would effectively address the systemic issues at hand.
Taofeek suggested that a comprehensive restructuring, or even peaceful disintegration of the country, might be necessary to resolve the ongoing conflicts and the high rates of violence and insecurity.
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