Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Monday raised concern over the alleged killing of three farmers during a fresh attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Igboho, his hometown in Orelope Local Government Area of the Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State.
The victims, identified as Aderoju Mukaila, Olawuwo Saka, and Ojeniyi Ojebayo, were reportedly attacked and macheted by herders after attempting to stop their cattle from destroying their farms.
Although the injured farmers were taken to the hospital for treatment, they later died from their injuries despite medical efforts to save them.
In a statement released to journalists, Igboho called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to urgently address the growing insecurity affecting rural communities in Oyo State and across the South West. He warned that continued inaction could lead to unnecessary conflicts and widespread unrest.
According to the statement, Igboho said that three innocent people were killed in Igboho on Sunday, adding that this was the same issue he had been warning the government about for years. He noted that nothing had changed, as residents continued to suffer attacks while those responsible moved freely without consequences.
He stressed that the government and security agencies must intensify efforts to protect lives and property in the Oke Ogun area, where insecurity has become a daily challenge for residents of Igboho and nearby communities.
Igboho also expressed concern over the wider security situation in the region, stating that he had repeatedly drawn attention to the harmful activities of rogue Fulani herders, bandits, and other criminals who have infiltrated rural settlements and forest areas across the South West, as well as parts of Kwara and Kogi states.
He said it was now necessary for the Federal Government under President Tinubu, alongside security agencies, to implement effective strategies to combat insecurity, especially the violent actions of these criminal elements.
Lamenting the suffering of victims and their families, Igboho said many were now in deep distress, having reached the limit of their patience. He warned that authorities must act decisively before residents feel forced to resort to self-help in defending themselves.
He further called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for attacks and killings, insisting that criminals and non-state actors involved in such acts against farmers and residents in South West communities must face the full consequences of the law.
The statement ended with a call for proactive security measures, urging agencies to use actionable intelligence to prevent attacks, violence, and criminal activities in order to protect lives and property in affected communities.
