HERDSMEN: Police dismiss YCE’s alarm, says Ogun State is not under siege

The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed the alarm raised by the Yoruba Council of Elders over the large presence of Fulani herdsmen in the Southwest, concluding that the state is not under siege or any threat.

According to a statement on Wednesday, the Command said the state was safe for residents, visitors and investors, adding that nobody could put it under siege.

The statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, noted that there had been clashes between herdsmen and farmers, but was quick to add that the police authorities had resolved them.

Oyeyemi, who said it was dismaying that the Yoruba Council of Elders declared that the South-West was under siege by herdsmen, insisted that herdsmen-farmers’ clashes could not put the state under siege.

According to him, stakeholders’ meetings were being held across the state to identify the challenges posed by herdsmen and their cattle to farmlands, while sanctions were being imposed on those that breached the existing peace.

PPRO said: “The Ogun State Police Command, being an integral part of the South-West, wishes to set the record straight on herdsmen-farmers clashes as it relates to Ogun State.

“The command admits that there had been past incidents of herdsmen-farmers clashes in Ogun State. However, the incidents were few and far between. Also, none was serious enough to have placed the state under siege as they were expeditiously and amicably resolved.

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“It is pertinent to note that regular stakeholders’ meetings involving security agencies, traditional rulers, representatives of state and local governments, community leaders, herdsmen and farmers across the state are being periodically held to identify the challenges posed by herdsmen and their cattle to farmlands.

“There are also existing committees comprising representatives of the stakeholders that monitor the activities of herdsmen and farmers and enforce mutually agreed sanctions against acts capable of breaching existing understanding and public peace.

“In several peace meetings held after the incident, the Fulani community, the host community, farmers and herdsmen, have resolved to continue to live together peacefully and also to keep records and monitor the influx of strangers from other neighbouring countries.”

The police spokesman also pledged that the command would continue to monitor the activities of herdsmen in the state to ensure that they conduct their activities in a lawful manner and encourage peaceful coexistence with host communities and farmers.

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