Armed herdsmen have taken over Ogunmakin — Rep Akande-Sadipe raises alarm

The lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, on Friday, raised the alarm that armed herdsmen have taken over Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve, and surrounding communities within her federal constituency in Oyo State.

The lawmaker alleged that herdsmen have been destroying farm produce, intimidating local farmers, and using weapons such as guns and cutlasses to instil fear in residents of Ogunmakin, adding that this has jeopardised the livelihood of farmers, exacerbating the economic crises and food insecurity of the region.

Akande-Sadipe said she raised the concern in a matter of Urgent Public Importance in a Motion on the need to avert further loss of lives, humanitarian and food security crises as a result of the invasion of farmlands by armed herdsmen in Oluyole Federal Constituency on the floor of the House earlier in the week.

She called on relevant arms of the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene before the people are completely wiped out from their ancestral homes.

Akande-Sadipe, who chairs the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, further accused the armed herdsmen of “a deliberate agenda to destroy farm produce, intimidate local farmers, and use weapons such as guns and cutlasses to instil fear, thereby jeopardising the livelihoods of farmers, exacerbating the economic crises and food insecurity of the region.”

She further noted that despite multiple reports to law enforcement agencies, no decisive action has been taken to address the situation, leaving farmers vulnerable and unprotected.

“The failure to act swiftly has emboldened the perpetrators, leading to increased attacks, destruction of crops, and threats to lives and property, with the risk of further escalation if immediate action is not taken,” she emphasised.

Tolulope Akande-Sadipe recalled the resolution of the Igangan crisis in 2021, where decisive steps were taken to address similar issues, including the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws and the deployment of security forces to restore peace and protect farmers.

She called for an immediate investigation of the reported cases of intimidation, destruction of farmlands, and use of weapons by herdsmen in the area and to ensure the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.

Akande-Sadipe asked the House to call on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide immediate relief materials and support to affected farmers and communities to mitigate the impact of the crisis on their livelihoods, enable them to recover from losses incurred, and resume agricultural activities.

She further begged for an immediate on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve, and environs and to engage with relevant stakeholders, including the Oyo State Government, security agencies, and community leaders, to develop a sustainable solution to the crisis.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE