Armed herdsmen invade Oyo communities, destroy crops

A member of the House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has sounded the alarm over the invasion of Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve, and other communities in the Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State by armed herdsmen.  

In a statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Olamilekan Olusada, in Ibadan, Akande-Sadipe accused the herdsmen of destroying farmlands, intimidating farmers, and wielding dangerous weapons such as guns and cutlasses to instill fear among residents.

The lawmaker lamented that the invasion has severely impacted farmers’ livelihoods, worsening economic hardships and food insecurity in the region.

Earlier in the week, Akande-Sadipe raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the House of Representatives, calling for immediate action to prevent further loss of lives and avert a looming humanitarian and food crisis.

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

She lamented 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 added.

The parliamentarian called for “an immediate investigation of the reported cases of intimidation, destruction of farmlands, and use of weapons by herdsmen in the area and 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 and 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.

“I also beg for an immediate conduct of an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve, and environs and engage with relevant stakeholders, including the state government, security agencies, and community leaders, to develop a sustainable solution to the crisis.”