Ogun community cries out over violence, killings of residents
…Calls for govt intervention amid rising insecurity
…Kidnapping not by Fulanis in Iwoye Ketu —Dende
Abeokuta —Residents of Iwoye-Ketu, in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, under the auspices of “The Iwoye-Ketu Development Forum,” have called on the Nigerian government and international community to intervene in the killings of natives and residents of the community by suspected Fulani arsonists.
Meanwhile, reacting to the allegation, the Ogun State Chairman of Myetti Allah Cattle Dealers Association, Alhaji Abubakar Dende, exonerated his people, saying the kidnapping was not by the Fulanis living in Iwoye Ketu, but by foreigners.
The community said the recent attack on the town has threatened the peace and security of the community and evoked painful memories of the tragic events of 2002.
The community in a statement by the Chairman, Chief Semiu Usman-Legitan and Secretary, Wale Fadipe, said the current violence was eerily reminiscent of the violent clash between the indigenes of Iwoye-Ketu and the Fulani settlers in 2002, which led to significant loss of lives and property, which forced many residents to abandon the town for safety.
The leaders noted that, in the last two months, Iwoye-Ketu has become a hotbed of kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes.
They reiterated that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes were believed to be members of the Fulani ethnic group residing in the community.
They maintained that, the Fulani have shown no regard for human lives by hacking and attacking the indigenes to death at any slightest provocation, which, according to them, have instilled fear among the people.
Kidnapping not by Fulanis in Iwoye Ketu —Dende
Meanwhile, reacting to the allegation, the Ogun State Chairman of Myetti Allah Cattle Dealers Association, Alhaji Abubakar Dende exonerated his people, saying that the kidnapping was not by the Fulanis, living in Iwoye Ketu, but foreigners.
He said: “According to what I was told, two indigenes of the community were kidnapped, and Yorubas came to the Fulanis living in the community to seek for their assistance towards rescuing the kidnapped victims, but along the line, there was disagreement.”
He added that, due to the disagreement, two Fulanis were killed, and another one, who was about to be killed was rescued, and this led to fracas, where a Yoruba man was killed.
“When I heard about the crisis, I called the Police and they intervened.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu convened a peace meeting between the Yoruba and Fulani communities in his office at Police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, where the crisis has been resolved.
The CP warned the two parties to maintain peace and since then, normalcy has returned to community
(Vanguard)
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