Posted by Punch on
In recent times, the indigenes of Igbaja District in Kwara State have suffered a lot in the hands of nomadic pastoralists who camped at the outskirts of the town.
In recent times, the indigenes of Igbaja District in Kwara State have suffered a lot in the hands of nomadic pastoralists who camped at the outskirts of the town. They have destroyed many farms as well as killed and maimed many people in the district. A few years ago, nomadic pastoralists killed a farmer on his farm at Aperun and up till now, despite all efforts made by the relations of the victim to bring the murderers to justice, they have not been punished for the crime.
While we were mourning the dead farmer, nomadic pastoralists again attacked a 14-year old boy, Jamiu Issah, and plucked out his eyes. He was working on his father's farm in Ilupeju. Incidentally, the two disheartening crimes were committed within the same area, and at short interval, indicating that some of the pastoralists had a comprehensive and organised plan to attack the indigenes of the area.
The foregoing shows that some of these nomads have turned terrorists, with the ultimate aim of deforming and destroying people and their means of livelihood - the farms. The situation is so terrible now that people, especially those in the Ilupeju-Aperun area, cannot go to their farms out of the fear that they might be attacked or their farms destroyed by these nomadic terrorists.
We the indigenes of this area have run out of patience and cannot tolerate any further attack. While we thank the Kwara State helmsman, Governor Bukola Saraki and his wife for their timely assistance to Jamiu Issah, we insist that the murderers who killed the farmer at Aperun, and those who gouged out the eyes of Jamiu Issah at Ilupeju, are brought to justice without further delay.
Alabi Ogunjimi,
Oju Popo Igbaja,
Igbaja, Kwara State.