Kwara bleeds, group alleges Miyetti Allah armed with AK-47 as terrorists sack Yoruba villages
By Samuel Ogunsona
Yoruba communities in Kwara have called on the Federal Government to provide security for locals as armed Fulani have field day killing and sacking communities.
“While the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo are fighting for supremacy, Kwara, a Yoruba territory has been invaded by terrorists and the traditional rulers are not concerned. It’s a shame” Mr Ogunmola Ilori a timber merchant at Ifelodun in Kwara State told our correspondent on Thursday. He said the terrorists are fighting hard to seize Kwara State in order to invade Yoruba mainland.
The call for help emanated from Ilere, Balogun, Saare and communitis in Kwara State as armed men invade and sack the indigenous communities.
Residents alleged they are being targeted and killed by Fulani herders.
The community, comprising mainly Yoruba people said despite their efforts to seek assistance from local authorities, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
According to a video made available to Irohinodua, the chairman of the community had booked an appointment with the local hunters of Ilere to discuss their security concerns with the Local Government authorities, but when they arrived at the agreed location the authorities refused to receive them.
The lack of response from the chairman has further exacerbated the community’s feelings of abandonment and desperation.
“We the Ilere hunters, yesterday booked appointment with the Local Government Chairman that we would meet him at Isaare. We got to Isaare, we called, and there no response”
A local official Alhaji Mufu Olasore told Irohinoodua that the invaders are armed with heavy weapons.
“We are being killed everyday by Fulani kidnappers. PLease help us. So many people have deserted their homes in Ifelodun Local Government area. We are in a terrible situation.”
Another community hunters representative alleged that the Kwara State Government has deployed Miyetti Allah militia armed with AK-47 which he accused of taking sides with the invaders.
The situation in Ilere has become increasingly dire, with reports of attacks and killings by suspected Fulani herders not ending.
The community also claimed that the local government authority has refused to address their challenges. calls, leaving them feeling helpless and vulnerable.
One of the community hunters, Mr Bankole was reportedly killed two days ago at his house by the suspected herders, one source told Irohinoodua on Thursday.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many residents fleeing their homes in fear for their lives.
“Ilere is scattered, no one is in Bankole, Iganmu, Sagbe communities again, please help us,” the community representatives pleaded.
“People are being killed and they are bringing in Mayetti Allah to help us, how can Mayetti Allah protect us? Why couldn’t they equip our own local security?”
The community expressed outrage that the local government has equipped the Mayetti Allah, a group associated with the Fulani herders, with AK-47 rifles, while the Yoruba community local security personnel lack the necessary equipment to defend themselves.
“We’ve been calling the Chairman and he has refused to pick our calls,” the community hunter representatives said. “Please, we call on all Yorubas in Ogun, Oyo, Ibadan, Lagos among others that Yoruba land is bleeding.”
This is not the first time that the Ifelodun LGA has been plagued by violence. In recent years, there have been several reported incidents of attacks and killings in the area, with many residents attributing the violence to the activities of Fulani herders.
In 2018, several communities in Kwara State, including Ilere, were attacked by suspected Fulani herders, resulting in the deaths of several people.
The attacks were widely condemned, with many calling for increased security measures to protect the affected communities.
The latest plea for help from the Ilere community has sparked renewed calls for action to address the security challenges facing the area. As one resident put it, “This is not North, take out the Mayetti Allah from our land.”
The community’s distress call highlights the need for urgent attention to the security situation in Kwara State, particularly in the Yoruba communities that have been affected by the violence.
Observers urged the government to take immediate action to address the concerns of Yoruba in Kwara and ensure that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.
In the meantime, the people of Ilere remain in a state of fear and uncertainty, pleading for help to save their lives and their community. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the people of Ilere can not wait any longer for the help they so desperately need.
