Hardball
What kind of audacity led alleged herdsmen to seize some areas in Orin-Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State? According to a report, they underscored the land seizure by hoisting a red flag meant to warn farmers to keep off the invaded farmlands.
Predictably, the land seizure provoked a protest. The report said: “The protesters, comprising old and young men and women, chanted derisive songs against the invaders with placards bearing their thoughts and agitations including ‘What is our sin?’; ‘Enough is Enough’; ‘Save Orin Ekiti from herdsmen invasion’; ‘We are tired of molestation by herdsmen’; ‘Government must relocate Fulani Herdsmen’, among others.”
At the centre of the conflict is 2500 acres of land, according to the Onikare of Orin-Ekiti, Chief Bamidele Fasuyi, who spoke to journalists. He said: “What they wanted is to invade our land and chase us away. They even killed one of our able-bodied men this year. They are imposing some curfew in this town, because our youths can’t go to farm freely and government has not been doing something. Several hectares of land had been destroyed. They used to operate at night with AK 47 rifle.
“Over 70 farmers were affected in our record. Crops worth N50 million have been ravaged. They ate up their products like Cocoyam, yam, cassava and others and made them to incur debts.”
Who are these invaders? If, indeed, they are herders, they must have been emboldened by the failure of law enforcement agencies to play their roles in the situation. This development further highlights the herder-farmer clashes in the country over land and/or cattle. The herders are usually nomadic Fulani and Hausa against local farmers in the areas where the herders choose to graze their cattle.
By hoisting a red flag, the herders introduced a dangerous dimension. A youth leader, Omotoso Mathew Kayode, was quoted as saying: “They wrote keep off with a picture of a cattle rearer on the flag. This is a serious threat. The police, NSCDC and soldiers removed the flag last year but they had hoisted another one.”
The situation suggests a breakdown of law and order, which is unacceptable. The state government is expected to take action, and send a clear signal to the invaders that their lawlessness is unacceptable. There is no room for such a scandalous seizure of land and the hoisting of a red flag to intimidate the landowners.
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