Criminal herdsmen in Ibarapa aided by jobless indigenes —Igboho monarch - Newstrends
Connect with us

News

Criminal herdsmen in Ibarapa aided by jobless indigenes —Igboho monarch

Published

5 years ago

on

The Ona Onibode, Oba AbdulRasheed Adetoyese, is one of the three traditional rulers in Igboholand, Oke Ogun part of Oyo State.

In this interview, Oba Adetoyese talks about his relationship with the other traditional rulers in the community, why attacks on the community by criminal herders have been frequent, the roles that monarchs should play in governance, his relationship with ethnic activist Sunday Igboho and why it is difficult to stop criminal activities in Oke-Ogun area.

The people of Oke Ogun appear to have suffered more than any other community in Oyo State as a result of attacks by criminal herders. What could be responsible for this?

In my area here in Oke Ogun 2, we have little problems. When I say Oke-Ogun 2, I am talking about the Saki axis of Oyo State. It is different in Oke-Ogun 1, which is Iseyin and Ibarapa areas. There are more herders there than here. But the herders here have been living with us from time immemorial.

Also, we have constituted a security committee, and Fulani people who have been living with us for a very long time are members of this committee. Any time they see new sets of herders coming into the community, they would inform the monarch of the town. This has helped us in keeping tabs on the new herders that are coming into Igboho. Also, the Old Oyo National Park is very close to us. There some criminal herders used to hide. But to the glory of God, it is impossible now for the criminal herders to hide because of the combined efforts of local hunters, Amotekun, vigilante and the police.

The army barracks at Saki also deters criminal herders from using the forest. So crime among herders is not pronounced in our area. We have little problem here, unlike other Ibarapa areas.

What do you think the government can do to stop the problem of herdsmen attacking communities?

I don’t think you should limit the problems of insecurity to criminal herders alone. I would prefer we address the crimes being perpetrated by both herders and indigenes.

Some of our sons are unemployed and they engage in one crime or the other. If the government gives local government autonomy, these problems will be reduced. At least, governance would be nearer to the people. It is sad that graduates do not have anything to do other than ride okada (commercial motorcycles). This set of people is tempted to commit crime or act as accessories to crime if tempted with money.

If there is local government autonomy, there will be jobs in the community. The law that established the local government should be re-examined and the government should pump more money into the local government.

Government should also fund the local hunters in order to fight crimes. They are closer to the community and they know the terrains.

Unfortunately, these criminals have continued to come with different tactics day in and day out.

Look at Niger State; it used to be safe and peaceful, but not anymore. The increase in crime rate is not peculiar to any region in Nigeria. Everybody is feeling the pain of unemployment.

The crime rate would have been high in this part of Oke-Ogun if not for the security measure we put in place, though we still have pockets of crimes here and there, like herders going to destroy farms. But if you compare this with the way these criminals attack villages in the north, the difference is poles apart.

Crime in Ibarapa is high because some of the indigenes are working in tandem with the criminal herders in perpetrating crimes in the area. Things are worse there because there is a forest in that axis that shares a border with the Benin Republic. The forest is the hideout for the criminals. Government needs to support the local hunters in fighting crime on that axis. If local hunters go there and invade the forest without the support of the government, it could be counterproductive. For example, those who arrested a suspected kidnapper, Wakili, and handed him over to the police were detained. Government needs to find a solution to insecurity. For the problem of Nigeria to be solved, we need a new constitution, not constitution amendment.

In all this, what role do you think traditional rulers should play?

Unfortunately, the present political arrangement does not favour traditional rulers. The traditional institution is not part of governance. Traditional rulers are not part of political decision making. Yet traditional rulers are closer to the people. For example, here, in each of the local government areas, there are traditional council members. Each council has 15 members who are expected to be meeting periodically. Besides that, we have the ones for states too. But most of them are currently not meeting. Some governors do not even consult these traditional rulers on security matters.

Traditional rulers do not have any role to play in the Nigerian constitution. In the olden days, monarchs were charged with ensuring peace in their communities. But now, the local government chairman is in charge. Even in electing or appointing these local government chairmen, the traditional rulers are not contacted. The traditional institution will address the problem of insecurity if the new constitution is made.

There are three traditional rulers in Igboho. How have you managed to avoid clashes?

Each of the monarchs has his own domain. If something happens, we call ourselves to manage whatever happens in the wards.

Also, the government has created wards. In my domain, I have four wards. I have the largest quarters in the town. We are always in touch.

When there is a conflict of interests, how do you resolve it?

Yes, we sometimes have conflict of interests, but what we have resolved is that whatever benefit is coming, is coming to Igboho and Igboho people are the ones that would benefit. It is one town under the umbrella of three kings. The government is aware that there are three kings in Igboho.

Majority of the people are more familiar with Sunday Igboho than Sunday Adeyemo. What is the relationship between Sunday Igboho and the Igboho community?

Sunday Adeyemo is a native of Igboho. He had in many interviews explained that he grew up in Modakeke, Osun State and his father, while living in Modakeke, was known as Baba Igboho because he hailed from Igboho. Then people were calling him Sunday Omo Baba Igboho. Later, they removed the ‘omo’ and started addressing him as Sunday Igboho when his father left Modakeke and returned to Igboho. He is an Igboho son. His father and mother are from Igboho.

Not all the Yoruba are in support of his crusade, especially his quest for an Oduduwa nation. If you were to advise him, what would you be telling him?

You should understand that something brought about the agitation. The killing of the Yoruba in Ibarapa area brought about the agitation. Even many people were in pain before his own agitation started. Many people felt these herders would not stop oppressing the natives to the extent that even when their cattle graze on the farms, if the farmer resisted, he would be arrested. And the police were helpless too. Many of the natives were displeased with this. That was the beginning of the agitation. Some who were displeased but could not do anything decided to support him.

For those who are against him, you should understand that not everybody would accept your cause. Some people who feel that a united Nigeria holds more benefits for them than a fragmented country would not support him. Probably in his own wisdom, he feels if Yoruba stands as a nation, it would be beneficial than being part of a united Nigeria.

Even among the traditional rulers, there is no consensus.

Traditional rulers are suffering. Ideally, we are supposed to assist the populace. But it is not so. And that is why you see traditional rulers pandering to the wishes of politicians. Those who are advising Sunday Igboho to do this or that have reasons for doing so.

Traditional rulers are now running away from tradition and some rites. Do you think this is healthy?

Yes, that is true. And there are many reasons for this. If you don’t know the foundation of something, it will be a lot difficult for you to destroy it. If you check the history of Yoruba monarchs, you would see that the majority of them had short reigns. The reason was not far-flung. Most of these people who were privy to the traditional rites had the key to the lives of these monarchs, and they would do anything to terminate the reigns of such traditional rulers if they were displeased with them. But the present day monarchs are wiser. They avoid some of these rites in order not to be entangled. This is the more reason they run away from certain rites and they live longer. Monarchs are more careful now.

GBENGA ADERANTI

– Vanuard

Loading

Related Topics:
Advertisement

News

Agbedi Emerges House Minority Leader as Reps End Leadership Tension

Published

12 hours ago

on

June 11, 2026

By

Agbedi Emerges House Minority Leader as Reps End Leadership Tension
Hon. Frederick Agbedi

Agbedi Emerges House Minority Leader as Reps End Leadership Tension

The House of Representatives has confirmed a new leadership team for its minority caucus, ending weeks of political tension and internal disagreements among opposition lawmakers.

Hon. Frederick Agbedi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency of Bayelsa State, emerged as the new Minority Leader during Thursday’s plenary in Abuja.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the decision while reading a formal letter from the minority caucus, also confirming Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoto) as Deputy Minority Leader, and Hon. Mansur Soro (APM, Bauchi) as Minority Whip.

Abbas said: “Today, the body of principal officers is complete… we congratulate the three members and wish them well.”

The leadership change followed the resignation of former Minority Leader Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who left the PDP after winning the APC governorship primary in Rivers State, creating a vacuum that triggered intense lobbying.

Tensions escalated when Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, initially nominated by the G-60 opposition bloc, withdrew his candidacy following a controversial amendment to the House Standing Orders.

READ ALSO:

The amendment, sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, introduced a requirement that principal officers must have completed at least one full four-year term in the House, effectively excluding first-term lawmakers.

Before the plenary, G-60 lawmakers staged a brief protest in the chamber, chanting “No announcement, no sitting,” insisting on their preferred leadership arrangement. The protest later subsided.

Ugochinyere, in a withdrawal letter read on the floor, said the decision followed changes to the House rules and was made in the interest of institutional order and unity within the caucus.

During the announcement, Speaker Abbas confirmed the consensus nomination of Agbedi and his deputies, noting that the House would work with the new leadership to achieve its legislative agenda.

Agbedi, a seasoned lawmaker who has represented his Bayelsa constituency since 2011, is expected to coordinate opposition activities in the chamber ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The new minority leadership team will oversee opposition engagement in a House dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with responsibilities including legislative scrutiny and policy oversight.

Agbedi Emerges House Minority Leader as Reps End Leadership Tension

Loading

Continue Reading

News

Xenophobia: FG Receives 270 Nigerians Returning Voluntarily from South Africa

Published

13 hours ago

on

June 11, 2026

By

Xenophobia: FG Receives 270 Nigerians Returning Voluntarily from South Africa

Xenophobia: FG Receives 270 Nigerians Returning Voluntarily from South Africa

The Federal Government has received 270 Nigerian citizens who returned from South Africa under an ongoing voluntary return and reintegration programme coordinated by relevant government and humanitarian authorities.

The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday after completing mandatory registration, documentation, and screening processes required for participation in the initiative.

Officials confirmed that the exercise was jointly facilitated by government agencies and partner organisations to ensure the safe, orderly, and dignified return of Nigerian citizens willing to come back home.

In a statement issued by the Lagos Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (National Emergency Management Agency), the agency said its officials, alongside other stakeholders, were on ground at the airport to receive the returnees and coordinate immediate humanitarian support.

READ ALSO:

The statement, signed by the Head of Operations, NEMA Lagos Operations Office, Mr Mohammed Olatunde, noted that the return programme is designed to support Nigerians abroad who voluntarily choose to return, particularly in situations involving economic hardship, safety concerns, or difficult living conditions.

According to him, the returnees had duly registered for the programme and completed all required screening procedures before departing South Africa, ensuring compliance with established migration protocols.

On arrival in Lagos, the returnees were assisted through immigration clearance and profiling procedures, after which arrangements were made for their onward movement to different parts of the country.

Olatunde explained that the Federal Government provided transportation support to help ease their movement from Lagos to their respective destinations across Nigeria.

He further disclosed that medical personnel and emergency response teams were stationed at the airport to provide immediate attention to any returnee requiring healthcare services upon arrival.

Reaffirming NEMA’s role in the operation, he said the agency remains committed to humanitarian coordination, emergency response, and the welfare of Nigerians returning from abroad under organised frameworks.

He added that the initiative reflects ongoing collaboration between Nigerian authorities and international partners aimed at ensuring the safe reintegration of returnees into their communities.

Authorities also noted that the programme includes post-arrival support measures, which may involve referrals for psychosocial support, transportation assistance, and reintegration guidance to help returnees resettle productively.

Officials stressed that the voluntary return initiative is part of broader migration management efforts and diplomatic engagements designed to support Nigerians abroad while ensuring their dignity and safety.

The arrival of the 270 returnees comes amid continued concerns over xenophobic tensions in South Africa, which have previously affected foreign nationals, including Nigerians, prompting periodic evacuation and return programmes.

Xenophobia: FG Receives 270 Nigerians Returning Voluntarily from South Africa

Loading

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill

Published

14 hours ago

on

June 11, 2026

By

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill

The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to tackle rising insecurity through decentralised policing.

Lawmakers approved the bill during plenary on Thursday as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, paving the way for one of the most far-reaching security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Constitution to allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). At present, policing is exclusively controlled by the Federal Government, with the Nigeria Police Force serving as the country’s only constitutionally recognised police institution.

The passage of the bill comes amid increasing calls for State Police as Nigeria grapples with persistent security challenges, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes across various regions.

Supporters of the proposal argue that a decentralised policing structure would improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing and enable faster responses to security threats at the local level. They also believe governors and local authorities are better positioned to understand the unique security concerns within their states.

READ ALSO:

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, had previously described the establishment of State Police as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s security framework.

According to proponents, the current centralised policing system has become overstretched due to the country’s growing population and increasingly complex security landscape.

The push for State Police in Nigeria has gained momentum in recent months following consultations involving the Presidency, state governors, security agencies, lawmakers and civil society organisations.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly expressed support for discussions around policing reforms, with many governors also backing the proposal as a means of improving security at the grassroots level.

However, the initiative has continued to spark debate among stakeholders.

While advocates maintain that state-controlled police formations would improve security and accountability, critics have raised concerns that state governments could misuse such forces for political purposes, particularly during elections and periods of political tension.

To address these concerns, lawmakers have indicated that constitutional safeguards, oversight mechanisms and operational guidelines would be incorporated into the framework to prevent abuse and ensure professionalism.

Despite its passage by the House of Representatives, the bill has not yet become law.

As a constitutional amendment, it must still secure concurrence from the Senate and be approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

If eventually enacted, the legislation would fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing system and represent one of the most significant constitutional reforms since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

The latest development is expected to reignite nationwide conversations on security sector reforms, federalism and the devolution of powers within the Nigerian federation.

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending