Traditional Ruler Makes Fulani Herdsmen Indigenes

After the farmers repelled the attack and injured some cows in a bid to overpower the suspected herdsmen ,one of the farmers, Yakub Salasi, 27, sustained serious injuries during the attack, noting he was rushed to a nearby hospital along Ilemona community for medical treatment, while other injured victims were later transferred to Abdulsalam Hospital, Offa.

The suspects were said to flee when the farmers reportedly alerted officers and men of the Offa Civil Defence Joint Task Force (JTF) in the area.

The incident was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Babawale Afolabi on Saturday.

“The JTF Offa division and Vigilante team went to the farm where the victim was rescued and moved to a nearby hospital along Ilemona community for medical treatment,” Afolabi stated.

“Meanwhile, in the effort of Offa Civil Defense JTF to arrest the suspects, the cows belonging to the suspected herdsmen were recovered at the farm where most of the cows were injured by the farmers. Later, a Fulani man in the area, one Alhaji Sabo Yaro, intervened and promised to assist the security operatives to smoke out the suspects.” he added.

The Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho had last week issued a fresh eviction notice to killer Fulani herdsmen across Yoruba land.

However, the traditional ruler of Offax Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi said recently that the Fulani herdsmen within his domain will not leave. The traditional ruler said he has made Fulani people in his domain indigenes of Offa because many of them have become accustomed to the way of life in Offa.

Olofa of Offa, in a short video clip, said, “In Yoruba land, we have Hausas and Fulanis. We need to communicate with them in every possible language they understand. Some of them do not understand Yoruba, Fulani or Hausa and you say you will chase them away from Yoruba land. Where do you want them to go?

“The Seriki Fulani that you are seeing here does not understand any other language apart from Yoruba. If we now go and burn his house and ask him to leave, [it would be unfair].”

“Since that is the case, they have become accustomed to Offa and I have given them indigene ship of Offa. And I have directed the [police] DPO to prevent anybody from harassing them as Fulani’s. I want peace in Offa. I want all the 16 local government areas to see that Offa is peaceful, there is no conflict, and we are living together in harmony, so they will copy how we did it. We are not chasing any Fulani or Bororo away, and we are not stopping them from grazing their cattle. We will only give them guidelines.”