Metro
Ondo monarchs sack herdsmen from communities, give 22 days ultimatum
Four monarchs in Ondo state have sacked herdsmen from their communities following the ugly experience they have had recently.
They communities are Idoani, Idogun, Imeri and Afo in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
This position of the monarchs is contained in a communiqué shared with newsmen on Sunday.
According to the communiqué, a 21-day ultimatum which had already begun on July 22 was issued to the herdsmen to vacate their farmland.
In the communiqué that was jointly signed Alani of Idoani, Oba Olufemi Olutoye, the Onidogun Oba Moses Bakare, Onimeri Oba Babatunde Adeniran and the Alafo was Oba Adegoke Egunjobi, it was said their people could no longer tolerate the spate of kidnapping, killing and rape of their daughters by the herders.
The monarchs expressed fears that there might be violent clashes and reprisals between the farmers and herders following the incessant destruction of cash crops by the herdsmen.
Read also: 65-yr-old businessman killed, daughter in-law abducted in Kebbi
They argued that the ultimatum remained the last option to explore in order to avoid the breakdown of law and order.
According to the five-paragraph communiqué, the fear of frequent unprovoked attacks by the herdsmen has forced many farmers to abandon their means of livelihood, leading to economic meltdown in the area.
Describing the plan by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to set up vigilante group in Ondo State as an affront to Yoruba race, the four royal fathers vowed not to allow any part of the area to be used for RUGA in whatever guise.
They, therefore, called on the residents of the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agencies for appropriate action.
Join the conversation
Opinions
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.