MY ORDEAL WITH FULANI HERDSMEN IN OYO NORTH, OYO STATE – OLUSOLA AGORO
Its high time all farmers in Nigeria came together to fight this course, both state and federal government have to be called into order, Food production is one of the basic necessities of life, why should some set of people feel other should abandon their means of livelihood for them. A Fulani man once told me all the land in Nigeria belongs to them.

Earlier this year, I am to manage a small portion of farmland just 100 hectares of maize farm in Wasimi village, before Ado-awaye, towards Iseyin in Oyo North Local Government area of Oyo state. This village in question has massive farmland of about 50,000 hectares or more. The fertility of the farmlands and a number of plough-able farmland available in the environment attracted me into the venture.

As a renown agriprenuerist with vase knowledge in crop farming and the national coordinator of Nigeria farmer’s forum, I saw opportunity for my forum members and other agroprenuers . While working on the farmland, I noticed that the population of Fulanis outnumbered the indigenes in the areas. Cattles population is also massive; their huts are all over the bushes.

Preplanting operations started on 15th of March, 2019 while the first maize seed was planted in 13th May, 2019. It is a semi – mechanized farm with appropriate plant population, organic and aflatoxin treated maize in mind and planed for. By 13th June, the 1-month old planted farm is already the talk of the town and a semi tourist for other farmer in the village; Sola Agoro popularly called Manager in the areas become a proud educated farmer manager – Other farmers ask questions and become agricultural extension officer, offering them my free services and advise as usual.

My ordeal started on 15th of June, 2019 when I got to the farm and discovered cattle have been feasting on the highly rated maize farm. Prior to that time, meetings have been organized between the Farm Management and all the Seriki Fulani within the environment and a Fulani guy has been employed as a guard to the farm, he was recommended to us by the Sarikis .

The guard said the only solution is to contact the cattle owner with the farm vicinity to relocate, unless there nothing we can do. A meeting was organized and I made Fulani owner of the cattle to understand the implication of what his cow was doing to the farm- He begged and promise to relocate, so I did not demand for any compensation for the damages, contrary to the Policemen’s view, because the case has been reported and police had visited the farm before the meeting. He relocated on Tuesday 18th June. we visited his hut around 10am and took pictures and made video- and feeling like the Israelite who has failing the wall of Jericho.

At around 12 noon, while relaxing under a tent around the farm, I couldn’t believe my eyes when about 35 cattle emerged from a nearby bush and started destroying the farm. I was on the farm with 6 boys, we all have to move towards the cattle and stared chasing them. The Fulani boys ( a bad guy) abandoned his cows and absconded. 22 cows were rounded up by my workers, while a made a call to Police DPO who said we should keep on following the cows that between 6-7pm they will go back to their base and effect arrest after then.

Suddenly, we became cattle rarer, (the worst 3 hours of my life) I stumbled in the bush a couple of time while chasing the cows and taking pictures – None of the cattle boys around could give any information about the cows, the rearing lasted about 3 hours, I was very tired, 2 of my boys were already missing – at that point I had to withdrew my worker and returned to our farm house.

That was around 4pm, the police DPO advised us to add about 2 or 3 hours to the raring but my strength can no longer carry it. So I decided to go and look for my Fulani guard who I believed he should identify the cattle in my pictures. Some of the cattle were marked so with the mark he should recognize them. So we all left the farm, found the 2 missing boys and got the Fulani guard.

The guard couldn’t recognize the cows in my pictures and he asked the supervisor join him immediately to pick a trail on the farm. About an hour later, I got a chock of my life through a phone call, the same set of cows were found on the farm feasting on it (an assumed deliberate action of the Fulani boys) 2nd chase by our Fulani guard and the farm supervisor continued.

At about 8pm, they returned and said they had found their base, so in the morning we arranged with the Police to arrest the Fulani boy. Smile, I didn’t follow them, I asked my farm supervisor who was with the Fulani guard the previous to lead the team. Surprisingly, they were lead to the claws of Fulani Herds men, if not for the intelligence of the Police, it would have different story, none of the said cows were found at the base no relationship between the cows in the pictures and the one found at the base. A fight was about to break out, settled with police guns and they departed – we just lost police support:

My supervisor and the guard was taken out of the plan immediately as got the news and re-strategized myself – I am a Certified Security Specialist (CSS) thank God for NIIS and Major O. Motgomery - the training was not a waste. I worked with 4 boys, found the right location the same day and met with the police DPO in a Night Club; the following day- an attack was lunched around 6.30am and arrest was made. We collected a soft compensation from them. They were surprised of our level intelligence and we departed in a very good and friendly mood.

The compensation was paid at a point of no grievances; they are comfortable with it
- They will not re-attack the farm or anyone
- they saw it as a good deal, and they accepted obvious gratitude.
- If we decided to be adamant on huge claim, then we should be ready to quit the farm for them.

LESSON LEARNT:
• Our Farms were in 4 locations A, B , C and D; which is not ideal for Commercial Agricultural.
• If it is 100 hectares it MUST be on the same point to avoid herds men attack on the farm. The bigger, larger and openness of the farm, the better and herds men will be afraid to come near.
• When trees are surrounding a farms the proximity of herds men attack is high
• Lastly, No Fulani man will expose his brother – So we cannot use Fulani against Fulani herds men.

Thank for reading:

Sola Agoro (08037200191 – WhatsApp & call )

You can't even compare that to what I faced growing up with Blood and Crips moving round with a glock.

Ain't we in trouble in this country?

When you lie with dogs, expect to be bitten by fleas.

I have no business with master and slave matter.

LESSON LEARNT:
• Our Farms were in 4 locations A, B , C and D; which is not ideal for Commercial Agricultural.
• If it is 100 hectares it MUST be on the same point to avoid herds men attack on the farm. The bigger, larger and openness of the farm, the better and herds men will be afraid to come near.
• When trees are surrounding a farms the proximity of herds men attack is high
• Lastly, No Fulani man will expose his brother – So we cannot use Fulani against Fulani herds men.

The bolded part means Buhari will never expose or tell the Nigerian securities to expose or attack his brothers, Fulani herdsmen

OP u need to be very careful and more security conscious. these Fulani guys might come for u personally.

If you have voted buhari, no problem

If not

Leave farming business for now

Nigeria must be Restructured

That's an impressive plant population. Do you mind me putting a call through?

Hmmm.

It was 2012 when I began toying with the idea of acquiring farmlands in Oyo state.
I made searches and enquires and finally decided Ogbomosho will be the ideal location. What's more, I met this great guy on nairaland who is based in and own farmlands in Ogbomosho. He filled in the gaps for me. Through him, I met the village heads whose community own the lands. We struck a great bargain. I was about to own hectares of farmland: one of the milestones I had set for myself.

But something kept nibbling at my ease. Of course I was aware of nomadic herdsmen and their menace. So, I asked my hosts if these plagues in human form ply their trade around there. I had already seen few herds of cattle around the village.
I didn't get a satisfactory answer, even though they assured me that herdsmen aren't an issue around there.

So, I decided to give it some time. I was still interested in buying the land, but you know how it is. After buying the land, I am on my own. No kabiyesi is coming to fight any battle on my behalf.

Fortunately, my cousin was serving NYSC near Ogbomosho that period. He hoped to settle in Oyo state afterwards, so he was excited about me owning farmlands there.
I got to read about herdsmen and farmers clashes around there. Not exactly in Ogbomosho though. But who's certain it won't spill over?
After a while, my interest waned. It wasn't safe. 9 years after, I didn't regret my decision. I went into something different. I'm happier. That's for sure.
Haven't totally lost that initial interest. I would revisit it when or if this country changes from how it presently is.
We are headed on a one way ticket to doom if things continue this way.

EkunKekere:
When you lie with dogs, expect to be bitten by fleas.

10 likes for you.