Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has raised the alarm over the alleged killing of three farmers in Igboho, his hometown in Orelope Local Government Area of the Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Sunday, was said to have followed a fresh attack by suspected herdsmen on farmlands in the community.
The farmers were identified as Aderoju Mukaila, Olawuwo Saka and Ojeniyi Ojebayo.
Igboho alleged that the victims were attacked after protesting the destruction of their farms by cattle during grazing activities. Although they were rushed to a hospital for treatment, they were said to have later succumbed to their injuries.
In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, the activist called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to urgently address what he described as worsening insecurity in rural communities across Oyo State and the wider South West, warning that continued inaction could fuel avoidable unrest.
According to the statement, “On Sunday, three innocent people were killed in my town, Igboho. This is exactly what I have been warning the government about for years.
Nothing has changed, and our people continue to suffer attacks while those responsible roam freely.”
“Government and relevant stakeholders in the security sector should do more to adequately protect lives and property in Oke-Ogun axis because insecurity has become a daily reality for residents of Igboho and surrounding communities.”
The statement further read, “I have been expressing concern before this fresh attack over the inimical activities of rogue Fulani herders, bandits and hoodlums, who have infiltrated rural settlements and forests in the South West, part of Kwara and Kogi states.
“It is more incumbent now for the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to deploy effective measures aimed at addressing insecurity, most especially the deadly activities of criminals wrecking havoc in our communities.
“Victims of killings occasioned by violence and attacks and their relatives are now in a state of despair because their patience and tolerance have reached its elastic limit.
The Federal Government and relevant security agencies should not hesitate to take decisive actions until residents and locals resolve to take laws into their hands in order to defend themselves.
“Hoodlums and other non state actors perpetrating attacks and killings of helpless farmers, local residents in South West communities should be promptly arrested to face full wrath of law for their heinous crimes.
“Actionable intelligence should also be explored by security agencies in order to nip in the bud attacks, violence and criminalities with a views,” the statement concluded.