Ekiti Communities cry to Tinubu, Oyebanji as terrorists lay siege

“Another genocide is looming, save us”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji have been asked to come to the aid of six Ekiti communities currently under terrorist siege. The six communities are locate in Ajoni Local Government area of Ekiti State.

The communities said another genonide is looming unless the State and Federal authorities act fast.

For the past few years, the communities have been under ceaseless attacks that have led to the deaths of many people. Few months ago, the attacks were reinforced making many locals to flee. But many said they have no other places to go compelled to live under fear and trembling.

About 40 people are said to be held captive by the terrorists. Many of them were kidnapped from Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara States.The community leaders said at present, thousands of locals wake up all day and all night not knowing when the invaders would strike. Last Saturday, thousands of indigenes of Irele took to the streets lamenting the seizure of their land by armed men. Apart from Ekamafa, adjacent communities of Ogbe, Eruku, Koro, Ejuku, Ponyan, Oga, Ogbom all in Kogi and Kwara States are confronted with the same or similar challenges.

They also lament that the Senator representing the area, Cyril Fasuyi and the House of Representative member, Akin Rotimi have neither visited nor made any comment on the travails of the communities yet have been holding meetings solely for their re-election.

Ekamarun leaders said in the face of misery and death, no political leader had visited the communities including the National Assembly members, Senator Fasuyi and Akin Rotimi.

‘We are shedding tears of blood. But the House of Assembly did not even consider it necessary to mention our travails of show any indication that they care.’

The communities said they appreciate the past and present efforts of the Local Government Chairman and the State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji and hope that the State Governor would do something before it is too late.The communities said in a true Federation, State Governments should be empowered to have state and local government police decrying a situation where Amotekun corps are not allowed to bear weapons equal to the threats posed by the terrorists.

Last week a middle aged woman in the community was raped to death.

The terrorists demanded that the community provide N1.5m, Indian hemp, cocaine, a dangerous drug called ICE and canned cartons of beer in exchange for the corpse of the raped victim.

Earlier, the woman’s son had been shot. He escaped with gunshot wounds and currently receiving treatment at the Ikole General Hospital in Ekiti state.

The traditional war chief in one of the Communities, Chief Kehinde Akogun said the communities do not trade in hard drugs and had to pay cash to secure the release of the corpse. But after releasing her corpse, the terrorists kidnapped four men after which they demanded for two virgins as ransom before their freedom.

The communities of some 30,000 people said the terrorists currently lay siege waiting at anytime to attack, rape, kidnap and occupy their ancestral communities.

They said the vast forest that stretches from Ekiti to Kwara and Kogi have been the haven of Fulani terrorists who have set up an extensive camp in the area.

The six communities are Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa and Ipao Ekiti. In the letter dispatched to Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor, the Ekamefa communities said the prospect of genocide is looming in the six indigenous towns and villages.

‘Another mass killing is waiting to happen. It could be tonight. Children, women and the aged including physically challenged people are currently at the mercy of heavily armed Fulani terrorists. They have encamped at the ancestral forests of Ekamarun in Ekiti and Kogi communities. We have been told they are coming to invade our homes and seize our land’ the protest letter stated.

Some leaders from each of the community signed the letter. They are Abimbola Omotoyinbo and Olubola Adeoye for Itapaji, Tosin Babalola and Chief Kehinde Abejide (Irele), Femi Bodunde (Oke-Ako), Joseph Osanipin (Iyemero) and Bayo Dada (Ipao).

The communities said their traditional farms have been invaded by heavily armed Fulani men who sent emissaries that the communities must vacate their fatherland.

‘We have been blocked of access to water and food. We cannot travel from our community to the local government headquarters for medicare. We are choked and can no longer breathe. Before the genocide, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor to come to our aid.’ In the letter the communities said the terrorists said their mission was to ‘kill us in large numbers and take our our land.’

The communities said they are not afraid to arm themselves and defend their land but had chosen to remain calm in deference to the law of the land and constitutional order.

‘We are children of warriors. Our great grand parents were warriors. We are also civilised people that believe in the rule of law instead of the rule of the jungle. Our patience is running out. We do not think the Nigerian authorities should allow communities to start arming themselves . We do not want relieve materials after we have been killed in large numbers. We do not want condolence statements of visits from politicians after we have been killed.

This is the time for you to act. A minute of delay is dangerous.’