Farmers, Students in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State, on Thursday protested against the incessant rapacious activities of Fulani herdsmen in the state, as prodigious losses of agricultural produce are mounting after the invasion of farms in Orire Local Government Area by Fulani herdsmen and their cattle.

These attacks were said to have impoverished the farmers, subjecting some of them into abject poverty, as crops worth millions of naira were destroyed by Fulani-herded cattle, with the cattle grazing the farms, and squashing on key crops, such as cassava, maize, yam, cashew, and tomatoes amongst others.

Its Secretary, Joseph Oyekola during a protest at the Oyo State House of Assembly in Ibadan called for urgent government intervention. The group maintained that the menace of the nomads had metamorphosed beyond grazing on crops, with new dimension of rape and physical attack with machetes, guns and destruction being recorded across the zone.

Equally, the farmers said they were living in perpetual fear due to the activities of the Fulani cattle rearers.

In a related development, the General Secretary, Federation of Ogbomoso Students' Union (FOGSU), Messrs Joshua Aderemi, laments the nefarious activities of the Fulani herdsmen, while calling on the government, security operatives to intervene so as to prevent conflictual relationship between the farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the communities. "Our resolution and decision to demonstrate peaceful and to display our grievances alongside our parents (farmers) who are our sponsors and whose farm produce are being destroyed by Fulani herdsmen".

Aderemi, who considered the incident as an agony of the mind said they can no longer entertain Fulani herdsmen and their cattle because they are not law abiding. According to him, several petitions have been sent to the Commissioner of Police, the State House of Assembly amongst others to register their concern over the increasing threat to life and properties constituted by the Fulani nomads.

He insisted that without any substantial intervention from the government and appropriate quarters, the entire students from the five (5) local governments that made Ogbomoso geo- political zone would have no option but to troop out into the farms to revolt the oppressors themselves.

Similarly, Messrs Aderemi, had earlier condemned in strongest terms the illegal and unlawful detention of some farmers by the police, SARs office in Oyo, 25th February, 2016.

In his reaction, while addressing the protesters, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo condemned the vicious activities of the Fulani herdsmen, while commending them for embarking on a peaceful protest to lay their grievances to the state government as well as towing the line of justice which might have escalated into destructive conflict as recently witnessed in Benue State where several lives and properties were wantonly destroyed.

He, however assured that the House of Assembly will look into the matter with get back to the farmers megaiconmagazine.com/?p=2254

I don't know how this herds men issue turned into a menace, can't we just turn it into a "first to see each other" thing, we all get a gun, immediately I just sight one, na to open fire, I no wan know if you come in peace.