Ilere community indigenous hunters in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have accused the state government of empowering the Fulani herders’ group, Miyetti Allah, with ammunition to “protect residents,” despite allegations that herdsmen are responsible for killings and kidnappings in the region.
The hunters, who have long safeguarded their communities, expressed frustration that the government has neglected and sidelined them while arming outsiders.
They lamented that despite protecting the region for decades, they were neglected while the government empowered Miyetti Allah.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the hunters and youths of Ilere community said they went to the Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat to voice their concerns, but the council chairman, Femi Yusuf, refused to meet them despite prior assurances.
The hunters lamented, asking what Miyetti Allah could do for the region in their land, alleging that Fulani herdsmen are behind the killing of their people.
According to them, despite the concerns about the herders, the government brought them in to “protect” them.
They are calling on the Kwara State government and Senator Lola Ashiru, representing Kwara South, to intervene.
The group reported that several residents were killed on Tuesday night, and that one town was specifically threatened with attack. As a result, nearly 16 communities have reportedly been deserted, with residents fleeing their ancestral homes.
The hunters are demanding the evacuation of Miyetti Allah from Kwara South and urgent empowerment of indigenous hunters with adequate equipment.
They stated that the government cannot just bring outsiders to protect their area when there are people who know the land and have been defending it all along, stressing that Kwara South is not the North; it is Yoruba land.
One of the leaders of the group said, "We booked an appointment with the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Femi Yusuf, who assured us that we could meet him in his office anytime. He instructed us to call him once we arrived in Share.
"However, when we got to Share, we kept calling him but he refused to answer our calls. We then contacted Oluode and our people, and they came to meet us. We are crying out to the world that Fulani herdsmen are killing us in our hometown. They have already killed our people in Ilere. Please, come to our rescue.
"The kidnappers have devastated Ilere, and we are now at the Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat, seeking help. The Fulani herdsmen have been targeting influential people among us, including Oluode.
"Four days ago, they invaded Bankole community, attacked Oluode, and killed him. Yesterday, they stormed Owa-Kajola, where they attacked our hunters and killed some people. That is why we are here today to express our concerns.
"As we speak, Ilere community is becoming deserted. From Bankole to Oreke, Sebe, and Babanla, people have fled their ancestral homes. We are calling on the world to please come to our aid.”
"We are the local government secretariat at Share. The Fulani herdsmen want to drive us out, and we are begging for help to prevent them from destroying our community," he added.
Meanwhile, the chairman of hunters union in Ifelodun Local Government stated that they are appealing to the Ifelodun Local Government chairman to assist the indigenous hunters.
He said, "The government should not allow insecurity to persist without finding lasting solutions and delivering justice.
"If we decide to risk our lives for the security of the people without proper equipment to confront the terrorists, we are merely gambling with our lives.”
"The local government chairman should have mercy on us. What is happening in Lere is also affecting Share, and the situation is becoming rampant. Please help us and find a drastic solution," he explained.
Another stakeholder said that kidnapping and killings have become a daily occurrence in Kwara South.
He said, "The worst part is that the Fulani herdsmen are destroying farmlands, harvesting crops like tomatoes and peppers, leaving our fathers and mothers unable to farm anymore.
"The government brought in Miyetti Allah to help us fight insecurity. But what can Miyetti Allah do? Our indigenous hunters are not empowered; they have been incapacitated, yet they are the ones facing the bandits.”
"The situation we are in now is very delicate. We are calling on the world to come to our rescue and appealing to Yoruba people in Ogun, Ibadan, Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, and Osun to help us. Yorubaland is bleeding. Our people are fleeing their ancestral homes every single day because of Fulani herdsmen," he said.
"His primary duty is to protect the lives and property of his constituents. He called the hunters by name, yet he did nothing to support them. Only a few were trained, and then the government gave AK-47s to Miyetti Allah in Yorubaland,” he said.
"What can Miyetti Allah do for us in our land when it is the Fulani herdsmen who are killing us? Despite this, the government still went ahead and brought Fulani to protect us.”
Culled from Sharareporters
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