by ‘Jola Sotubo

According to reports, at least eleven herdsmen have been killed in the last six weeks in some parts of Oyo State.

The Fulani ethnic community in the state claim that the killings took place in Otu, Ikomu, Igbo-Ora, Iwere-Ile, Iganna, Ilaju and Ado-Awaye areas of Oyo.

The community through a petition by the leaders of Jamu Nati Fulbe Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Salihu Kadiri and Mallam Muhammed Salihu Kisi, National Chairman and General Secretary ,respectively, called on the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, to come to their aid and take measures to prevent further loss of life.

They reportedly gave the names of some of those allegedly killed as Sanni Musa, Saidu Abdulahi, Ibraheem Haruna, Umar Babuga, Saliu Rebo and Muhammad Usman.

They said: “Natives, particularly farmers and youths, kill our people at any slight provocation. The common excuses for such brutal killings are that our cattle are fond of destroying their farmlands or  disturbing free flow of vehicular traffic on some major roads.

“In the last few weeks, these persons have invaded many Fulani clans and settlements to commit their crime of serial murder with impunity. This has resulted in the cold-blood murder of at least eleven of our brothers whose families have been left in eternal grief.”