OYO: We won’t leave Igangan, Ibarapaland, Seriki Fulani dares Sunday Igboho

THE Seriki Fulani in the State, Saliu Abdulkadir, has said his people residing in Igangan, in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the pacesetter state, will not leave the town.

Abdulkadir said this in a telephone conversation posted by BBC Yoruba Service on Facebook.

He noted that his tribesmen have been living in the community for more than 50 years without causing problems adding that there is no basis for the seven-day ultimatum issued by  a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho that his people should leave Igangan.

The Fulani leader, who spoke in Yoruba, lamented that Igboho and his followers have maintained that herdsmen must leave Ibarapa.

Abdulkadir stressed that he had a meeting recently with the Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan, and the number two citizen of Oyo State told him to disregard Igboho’s threat.

Asked about what steps had been taken over the threat, Abdulkadir explained that he has approached the police command for the protection of his people, as the expiration of the ultimatum draws closer.

There were reports that herdsmen attacked and killed four farmers on their way home after Igboho visited a Fulani settlement to confront Abdulkadir over the killings and kidnappings in Ibarapa.

When asked about the development, he said:

“It’s all lies. Nobody was killed. It’s all propaganda to damage our image.”

He added: “Our children that set out to graze with their cattle have been beaten and attacked. Any Fulani man seen in Ibarapa, even if he is not from the area, has been beaten and injured. It is already causing problems.”

He implored authorities to intervene in the matter.

Igboho, who on Monday, led youths to evict Fulanis from Igangan, had told them to leave the area in one week.

He said the order became necessary following incessant killings and kidnappings purportedly masterminded by the Fulani herdsmen in Ibarapaland.