Residents of Ibarapa area of Oyo State have raised an alarm that they do not want a return of the alleged notorious herdsman, Iskilu Wakili, in any of their villages.
The residents who counted their ordeal in the hand of the herdsman and his ‘soldiers, said they had worst experience of their lives in the hands of Wakili.
In Ayete, it was gathered that some of Wakili’s armed men, who escaped the OPC raid, allegedly started attacking villages and farms, killing innocent people and destroying farms.
Some of the resident, who spoke with The Punch on anonymous condition, expressed fears that Wakili might be released and his return will be very tough for them.
Sharing his experience, one of the men who took the quit notice message to Wakili from Odomofin compound, Ganiyu Oyerinde, claimed that Wakili’s men shot at him and two others, adding that the bullets didn’t penetrate their bodies because they were at the time, “chewing kola nuts which our forefathers gave us to eat in such a situation.”
He added, “Three of us went to the settlement to give them the letter. I told others that they could not attack us while we are there but they might do so when we were leaving. Immediately we turned to leave, they fired at us but I thank God that we didn’t die. We ran because if bullets didn’t have any effects on us they could catch up with us and use other means to attack us.
“We didn’t go there with guns or any other weapons, so we had to run. But they vandalised seven motorcycles belonging to some of those who followed us and stood at a distance. We later mobilised and returned to retrieve the motorcycles for repairs.”
Oyerinde also clarified that the people in the village didn’t sell land to Wakili.
“We earlier made the move to evict him and because we do not want to do anything against the law, we dragged him to the high court at Igbo Ora. The judge who presided over the matter said he should leave and we should give him another land. We were shocked to hear that but even at that, Wakili has refused to vacate the land. The Odomofin land, part of which he is occupying, is 720 acres. We will not allow a stranger to chase us away from our ancestral land.’’
Oyerinde said some of the villagers were really not afraid of Wakili and other Fulani, but only being careful not to be against the law.
He added, “The partiality from the top is evident to everybody, so we don’t want to use force. What evidence do the police need to prosecute him? He and his men attacked our people, raped and robbed them. They destroyed farms and continued doing that. We used to report their atrocities to the police but the police are biased. They would detain complainants and money would be used to secure complainants’ release. That is why we concluded that the police are against us and supporting the herdsmen. About four years ago, a case was reported and two policemen went to the Fulani settlement over the matter. One of the policemen popularly called Pastor was killed. He was not shot dead. He was tied and murdered.”
Meanwhile, a farmer, Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, who is popularly known as Akowe Agbe, alleged that Wakili and the then Seriki Fulani worked together. Adeagbo accused them of working together to perpetrate evils.
“Wakili’s sons grazed their cattle on a watermelon farm. The case was reported to the police and on Tuesday October 20, 2015, the cop, Akinwale Akanfe, was killed at Kajola via Ayete. The policeman was among those that went to investigate the case. He was tied and slaughtered like a cow.
“Also, 25-year-old Balogun Oluduro, and his 60-year-old father Olukosi Oluduro were mercilessly matcheted at night in Kajola, on February 14, 2015. On August 23, 2019, one Ganiyu Nurudeen was killed at ldi-emi, Kajola by the killer gang.
“On March 29, 2015, two herdsmen snatched a motorcycle at Kajola. The motorcycle belonged to one Muraina Ogungbenro, an indigene of Ayete. The second day, the motorcycle was taken to a younger brother of the owner for repairs and that led to their arrest. It was the then Seriki Fulani who went to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, secured their release and returned them to the lbarapa North Local Government Area. After their return, they became more vicious. It was not long after that Ogungbenro was maimed on his farm at Ominigbo village via lgangan, in 2015.”
A young farmer, Saheed Jimoh, said he was attacked in his farm by Wakili’s children last year.
He said, “I got to the farm that day and saw cows destroying my cassava. Wakili’s children brought the cows there and I asked them why they did that. They became angry that I had the courage to challenge them. They brought out cutlasses and attacked me. I was the only one on the farm that day. I screamed but nobody helped me. I fainted and they left thinking I had died.
“I stood up later and staggered towards the road until I met some people who took me to the hospital. I spent about four months at a private hospital at Tapa. I thought I would die but God saved me. I have started farming again because I don’t have anything else to do. On Monday, some Fulani went to our buildings in the village and set fire on them. I don’t think there is anything left on the farm now. I am happy to be alive because a dead man has no hope. Wakili’s return to the area will restart fresh oppression of the villagers. They have carried out many bad acts in the area.’’
The current Odomofin of Ayete, Chief Saubana Oyewole, also said the family didn’t give any land to Wakili. He further said that though he wasn’t a victim of Wakili’s alleged atrocities, he had been inundated with tales of his acts by his victims.
He said, “Wakili came to this place about 18 years ago and has been claiming that God is the owner of the land. I agree with him but the same God put some people in charge of the land. Is God not the owner of the land in the North? Why can’t he go there and occupy the land there. We took him to court and the judge advised us to settle the case amicably because of the herdsmen crisis which was at its peak then. The judge said we should give him another place but Wakili has refused to leave where he is.
“He is a pain to our people. They would farm and he and his children would not allow them to harvest what they laboured for. His cows were usually taken to farms to eat up crops. But on farms owned by the Fulani, they hardly allow cattle to graze there. That is the irony of the whole thing. Food is expensive now. If farmers are hungry here, what do you think will happen in the cities?’’
The Odomofin of Ayete said elders of the area had agreed that Wakili should not be allowed to return to their village.
He stated, “The people are tired of him and I stand by their decision. He cannot come here and be causing pains to our people. I don’t have a farm that he can destroy. I am an old man but the farmers are hungry. They cannot go to their farms because of fear of being raped, maimed or killed. For how long are we going to be subjected to this kind or horrible experience from one man and his children?”