Hounded by agents of death at home, Ogun victims of herders’ attacks locate shelter in Benin Republic

DAUD OLATUNJI writes on the reported persistent attacks on locals by suspected herdsmen in the Yewa area of Ogun State, which have compel many residents to flee to neighbouring Benin Republic where they are currently live as refugees

The farmers and herders’ conflicts that started like skirmishes have now become a full blown crisis with attendant loss of lives and property.

In fact, hundreds of residents of Ogun West Senatorial District, otherwise known as the Yewa-Awori axis, have deserted their homes after the invasion and killings by Fulani herdsmen did not abate.

Going down memory lane, the herders-farmers’ clashes have been on for some decades, especially, during the dry season.

According to findings, the major cause of the conflict is the attempt by herders to graze their animals on farmlands without any prior agreement with farmers.

Any attempt by the farmers to prevent them from grazing their animals on their farms always leads to serious conflicts.

These conflicts have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of both farm crops and houses.

The conflicts have been an annual issue that usually abate after about three months when the rain starts.

But, it took another dimension this year following a war-like approach introduced by strange herdsmen in the Yewa area of Ogun State, which affected mostly the two local government areas of Yewa-North and Imeko-Afon.

The attacks started early February and became worse when a farmer in Imeko-Afon, Dele Olowoniyi, was slaughtered in his settlement on February 8.


A few days after, more killings were recorded in the two troubled local governments, including that of six persons by herdsmen, who attacked the villagers in Owode-Ketu around 5am.

Many people were also injured. Two of the victims, who were identified as farmers, were reported to have been dealt machete blows and then thrown into the Yewa River.

Our correspondent gathered that the perpetrators invaded the community and shot indiscriminately at the villagers as they attempted to flee.


These incidents led to the closure of schools, hospitals and many businesses in the affected areas.

Findings showed that the February 11 attack in Owode-Ketu was in retaliation for a visit of the Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, to the area.

Ighoho’s visit reportedly resulted in the death of two Fulani herdsmen and burning of the Seriki of Eggua Kara’s market and houses.

The areas have become a war-ravaged zone due to the incidents. So many killings occurred on a daily basis in the two affected local government areas.


It got to a point that the residents could no longer withstand the attacks and fled to the neighbouring Benin Republic for refuge.

Hundreds of residents of Asa, Agbon-Ojodu, Moro, Isiku, Ibeku, Eselu, Oha, Eggua, Kodera, Okosho, Seeke-Aje, Igbo-oro, Koole, Oguba-Ayetoro, Adeshina and many others fled to Benin Republic and other areas.

This development led to the convocation of a stakeholders’ meeting attended by four governors from northern states of the country and the two warring parties of herders and farmers.


The meeting was presided over by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the conflict, which had claimed some lives and property.

Abiodun announced the constitution of a reconciliation committee comprising traditional rulers and led by a son of Yewaland, Kayode Oladele.

Despite the stakeholders’ meeting and the establishment of the committee, the crisis has not abated. Lives are still being lost, while most of those, who fled their homes, have still not returned.


On February 6, the governor ordered security agencies in the state to investigate the clash between herdsmen and farmers in Yewaland that led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

As part of the efforts to ensure the security of lives and property, Abiodun set up a special task force with the mandate to maintain presence in all areas of the state prone to herders/farmers’ conflict so as to maintain peace and quickly respond to any form of violence or crime.


On February 11, the governor handed down a warning to perpetrators of violence in Owode-Ketu, Eegua, Igan-Alade and Igbogila areas of the state.

His warning came as a result of further killings of people by herdsmen. This development propelled the governor to deploy a special task force comprising the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services and local vigilante groups, with representatives of other stakeholder entities in the crisis-prone areas.

On February 15, he sent a delegation to the troubled areas. The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, during the visit to his palace by the delegation called for the immediate setting up of the Amotekun Corps in the state and the involvement of traditional rulers in selecting its operatives, who know the different terrains.


On February 20, Abiodun inaugurated the state Peace Keeping Committee on the farmers and herders’ conflict. The governor acknowledged the fact that some people were displaced from their homes.

He said, “I have also instructed the Ministry of Housing; some people have been displaced from their homes right now; we must provide alternative accommodation for them immediately; that also does not have to wait for four weeks; so, those things that we immediately need to intervene on, we must do so without any delay.”


On February 27, the government handed over palliatives to the village heads of the affected areas.

Unfortunately, most of the people had fled their homes for the neighbouring country after endlessly waiting for government intervention.

A few people, who returned homes some weeks after, had to return to Benin Republic’s refugee camps.

While debunking the reports on the refugee camps created for Ogun indigenes, the state government said there were no refugees in Benin Republic.

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May God help us

Stop the recycling of this news... This is old

goatgoat093:


Yeah March 9,2021 is old... Mumu

Hahahahahaha, dont start your day with vexing.

Do you understand the meaning of recycling?

Pigidioott, this is stale already. Normalcy has since been restored with the formation of JSIS.

Go and rest!