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Criminal herdsmen in Ibarapa aided by jobless indigenes —Igboho monarch

Published

5 years ago

June 19, 2021

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

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BREAKING: IGP Kayode Egbetokun Steps Down as Tinubu Names Tunji Disu as New Police Chief

Published

1 hour ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

BREAKING: IGP Kayode Egbetokun Steps Down as Tinubu Names Tunji Disu New Police Chief

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has stepped down from office following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, marking a significant shift in the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.

Senior government and security officials confirmed that the decision was reached after a closed-door meeting between the president and the outgoing police chief at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

Following the meeting, President Tinubu nominated Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, as Egbetokun’s replacement. Preparations are already underway for a formal handover ceremony at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, although an official announcement by the presidency is still pending.

Egbetokun was appointed as the 22nd Inspector General of Police in June 2023, with his appointment later ratified by the Nigeria Police Council in October of the same year.

His tenure placed the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force under intense public scrutiny, particularly over issues of tenure elongation, succession planning, and compliance with statutory retirement provisions. At the time of his appointment, Egbetokun was close to the mandatory retirement age of 60, a development that triggered legal debates and criticism from civil society groups and constitutional lawyers.

BREAKING: IGP Kayode Egbetokun Steps Down as Tinubu Names Tunji Disu New Police Chief

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U.S. Congress Submits Report to Trump on Alleged Christian Persecution in Nigeria

Published

5 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

U.S President Donald Trump

U.S. Congress Submits Report to Trump on Alleged Christian Persecution in Nigeria

The United States House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs have formally submitted a comprehensive report to President Donald Trump detailing their findings and recommendations on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria and ongoing security challenges in the country.

The report follows President Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under U.S. religious freedom criteria and was the result of months of investigation led by Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole. The investigation involved hearings, expert testimonies, and bipartisan fact-finding missions to Nigeria.

Congressman Moore confirmed the submission on his X handle (@RepRileyMoore), noting that the report draws on on-the-ground assessments, interviews with internally displaced persons, meetings with government officials led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and consultations with religious leaders.

During the Nigeria visit, congressional delegates visited IDP camps in Benue State, assessed the impact of terrorist attacks, and observed first-hand the security risks facing Christian communities. Moore emphasized that the findings provide a clear picture of the threats in Nigeria, including attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed militias, which have led to killings, abductions, and widespread displacement.

“This report underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to address these pressing security challenges and protect vulnerable communities,” Moore said. He also urged the Nigerian government to strengthen ties with the United States to jointly combat violence and ensure the safety of civilians.

Key Recommendations in the Report

The report contains specific recommendations aimed at protecting civilians and promoting security, including:

Establishing a bilateral U.S.–Nigeria security agreement to safeguard Christian communities and dismantle jihadist networks.
Conditioning U.S. aid on measurable actions by the Nigerian government to prevent violence against civilians.
Implementing sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals or groups responsible for religious persecution.
Providing technical and strategic support to Nigerian security forces to counter attacks by Fulani militias and other armed groups.
Encouraging reforms of restrictive laws, including Sharia and blasphemy statutes, that may contribute to discrimination.
Collaborating with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to coordinate security and humanitarian responses.

Moore described the report as a blueprint for action, reflecting firsthand observations and expert consultations. “We hope this report will guide policy to protect innocent civilians, strengthen bilateral relations, and promote long-term stability in Nigeria,” he said.

The report has drawn attention to the complex security landscape in Nigeria, where religious and ethnic tensions, terrorism, and armed banditry continue to threaten communities, particularly in the northern and central regions.

The Nigerian government has previously rejected allegations of genocide or targeted persecution of Christians, describing such claims as misinformation, while reaffirming its commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of all citizens.

U.S. Congress Submits Report to Trump on Alleged Christian Persecution in Nigeria

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Tinubu to Governors: State Police Must Begin Now

Published

7 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu to Governors: State Police Must Begin Now

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the establishment of state police in Nigeria can no longer be delayed, stressing that urgent action is required to tackle rising insecurity, banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the country.

The President spoke on Monday night after breaking the Ramadan fast (Iftar) with state governors at the Presidential Villa, where he said all levels of government must work together to reclaim ungoverned spaces being exploited by criminal groups.

“What I promised you will not be postponed. We will establish state police to combat insecurity. Start looking around you,” Tinubu told the governors, emphasising that Nigeria’s security challenges had reached a point where decentralised policing could no longer be ignored.

He reminded the governors that they had all, through deliberations at the National Economic Council (NEC), agreed on the need to create state police as a strategy to curb insecurity and protect communities. According to him, the consensus underscored the urgency of addressing widespread criminality that has disrupted livelihoods and instilled fear across many parts of the country.

Tinubu, however, acknowledged that critical issues such as funding, command structure, oversight, accountability and coordination with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were still being worked out. He noted that these modalities must be carefully designed to ensure professionalism, prevent abuse and guarantee effective collaboration.

The President also urged governors to intensify grassroots development, saying neglect, unemployment and poverty at the local government level often fuel criminal activities. He appealed to state leaders to embrace inclusiveness and ensure that development opportunities reached the most vulnerable.