Exclusive: Fulani Terrorists ask Yoruba communities to pay N20m to avoid attack

Terrorists are sending emissaries to leaders in Yoruba communities asking them to pay ransom so that the extremists would not visit their domain. Irohinoodua has been informed amidst efforts by the Federal Government to stem the tide.
No fewer than five communities have indirectly been approached by the terrorists asking communities to pay up to 50m for security guarantee. Affected communities said the request was made by Fulani terrorists operating inside the forest between Kogi,Ekiti and Kwara States.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently responded to national security challenges through a wave of changes at the top echelon by dealing with a problem he actually inherited. Apart from changing the Minister of Defence, he has also intensified attacks on terrorists’ hideouts after many years of the terrorists being empowered by his predecessor, late President Mohammadu Buhari’s government.

The former Government was believed to have had many sponsors of terrorism close to his government or actually in Buhari’s government. The former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami is currently being investigated for corruption and terrorism financing, a act described as bold and decisive taken by Tinubu’s government.

Irohinoodua was informed by leaders in five Yoruba communities in Kogi State that the terrorists told the community leaders through their kidnapped and later released kinsmen to pay between 20 to 100 million naira ahead so that the terrorists would skip those towns and villages.
‘I’m aware that they kidnapped three people in Egbe. Kogi State. They released only one of them after ransom of 5million was paid. The woman was informed to tell the traditional ruler and the chiefs that the town should raise a sum of N50m to avoid invasion or kidnapping by the terrorists,’ Samuel Aina told our correspondent. He said he was not sure how Egbe would handle the issue. Last Monday, three travelers of Ikoro origin were kidnapped on their way to Ekiti State. One of them, an indigene of Ikoro who was released after payment of N2million was quoted as saying that he delivered a message to the traditional council of Ikoro from the terrorists who demanded for N20m to ensure that Ikoro was saved from kidnapping and armed siege.
‘At least five communities in Yoruba territories in Kogi have received such requests. The community leaders are in a dilemma. They want peace. They are tired of their wives and children being kidnapped, raped and even killed and their organs harvested. They might end up paying these money secretly without the knowledge of the police’, a retired Principal from Ikoro who does not wish to be named told Irohinoodua on Thursday. He said some communities are already paying the levy and that others may follow.
‘For many of us in these communities, life has ended because daily, wives and daughters are taken away from their homes, raped by teenage Fulani terrorists. All the Yoruba Obas and political leaders are doing nothing. We only read about them conferring chieftaincy titles and attending parties. We feel ashamed being Yoruba. When 14 Northerners were killed in Edo state, you saw how the Northern leaders rose up. The currently Yoruba leaders have dead conscience. We are on our own.’ he said

Egbe is an ancient Yoruba town in Kogi state that has witnessed frequent raids by terrorists who seem to maintain a fortified armed cell in the forest around the area.
‘I’m a teacher here. I don’t know how the community will handle the issue. Everyone is talking about the issue in undertones,’ Aina said. On Wednesday, a young lady who is a teacher at Egbe was kidnapped between Ogbe and Irele Ekiti. As at Thursday, his relations remain held in awe.
‘They asked us to bring N50m to secure her release. We understand they have many captives. The painful thing is that the authorities are doing nothing. If you are poor and you are kidnapped, no one cares. We are living at the most perilous times,’ Oloyede Agbana from Odo-Eri said. A police source who does not wish to be named told Irohinoodua that the current Federal government and all the security agencies have renewed efforts to deal with terrorism. He said the terrorists were enthrenched before Tinube became the President and that he currently has a good team capable of dealing with the menace.

The terrorists once attacked Ikoro at twlight in January2024. They killed the traditional ruler, Oba Olusegun Aremu Cole. His wife was also kidnapped.