Insecurity
Kwara South Hunters Accuse Government Of Arming Miyetti Allah Despite Herdsmen’s Alleged Killings, Kidnappings
They asked what Miyetti Allah can do for them in their own land, especially when it is Fulani herdsmen killing their people.
Ilorin, Kwara State- Indigenous hunters in Kwara South have accused the state government of allegedly arming the Fulani group, Miyetti Allah, to protect residents—despite reports that Fulani herdsmen have been involved in kidnappings and killings in the region.
The hunters, who have long served as local security protectors, expressed frustration that their decades of service have been overlooked and that they remain under-equipped, while the government empowered Miyetti Allah instead.
Leaders of the hunters, together with youths from Ilere community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, visited the council secretariat to raise their concerns.
They alleged that the Local Government Chairman, Femi Yusuf, failed to meet with them despite prior assassurance.
They asked what Miyetti Allah can do for them in their own land, especially when it is Fulani herdsmen killing their people.
They called on the state government and Senator Lola Ashiru, representing Kwara South, to take urgent action.
According to the hunters, recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen have forced residents to flee their ancestral homes, leaving nearly 16 communities deserted.
They demanded the immediate evacuation of Miyetti Allah from the area and the empowerment of indigenous hunters with adequate equipment to defend their communities.
The group disclosed that the government cannot simply bring outsiders to protect their region when capable local people are ready to defend it.
They said Kwara South is not the North—it is Yoruba land, and they must be able to protect it themselves.
One of the leaders of the group said, “We booked an appointment with the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Femi Yusuf, who assured us that we could meet him in his office anytime. He instructed us to call him once we arrived in Share.
“However, when we got to Share, we kept calling him but he refused to answer our calls. We then contacted Oluode and our people, and they came to meet us. We are crying out to the world that Fulani herdsmen killing us in our hometown. They have already killed our people in Ilere. Please, come to our rescue.
“The kidnappers have devastated Ilere, and we are now at the Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat seeking help. The Fulani herdsmen have been targeting influential people among us, including Oluode.
“Four days ago, they invaded Bankole community, attacked Oluode, and killed him. Yesterday, they stormed Owa-Kajola, where they attacked our hunters and killed some people. That is why we are here today to express our concerns.
“As we speak, Ilere community is becoming deserted. From Bankole to Oreke, Sebe, and Babanla, people have fled their ancestral homes. We are calling on the world to please come to our aid.
“We are the local government secretariat at Share. The Fulani herdsmen want to drive us out, and we are begging for help to prevent them from destroying our community,” he added.
Meanwhile, The chairman of hunters in Ifelodun Local Government stated that they are appealing to the Ifelodun Local Government chairman to assist the indigenous hunters.
“The government should not allow insecurity to persist without finding lasting solutions and delivering justice.
“If we decide to risk our lives for the security of the people without proper equipment to confront the terrorists, we are merely gambling with our lives.
“The local government chairman should have mercy on us. What is happening in Lere is also affecting Share, and the situation is becoming rampant. Please help us and find a drastic solution,” he explained.
Another stakeholder said that Kidnapping and killings have become a daily occurrence in Kwara South.
“The worst part is that the Fulani herdsmen are destroying farmlands, harvesting crops like tomatoes and peppers, leaving our fathers and mothers unable to farm anymore.
“The government brought in Miyatti Allah to help us fight insecurity. But what can Miyatti Allah do? Our indigenous hunters are not empowered; they have been incapacitated, yet they are the ones facing the bandits.
“After a meeting we held yesterday, we called the council chairman. He told us to come to Share and said we could come at any time. We have now been in Share for over an hour, and when we called the chairman, he refused to answer our calls to tell us whether he would attend to us or not.
“The situation we are in now is very delicate. We are calling on the world to come to our rescue and appealing to Yoruba people in Ogun, Ibadan, Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, and Osun to help us. Yorubaland is bleeding. Our people are fleeing their ancestral homes every single day because of Fulani herdsmen,” he said.
According to the aggrieved stakeholder, “The worst part, from what I have heard, is that the farmland our people left behind has been harvested by the Fulani herdsmen. The government must help us. That is why we are here to meet the chairman, because protecting us is part of the reason we voted for him.
“His primary duty is to protect the lives and property of his constituents. He called the hunters by name, yet he did nothing to support them. Only a few were trained, and then the government gave AK-47s to Miyatti Allah in Yorubaland.
“What can Miyatti Allah do for us in our land when it is the Fulani herdsmen who are killing us? Despite this, the government still went ahead and brought Fulani to protect us.
“We are calling on the state government and our senator representing Kwara South, Senator Lola Ashiru, to rise to their duties.
“Last night, Fulani herders killed several people. In one town, they even left a note stating that they were coming to attack. Is this how we are expected to continue dealing with insecurity while our people are fleeing their ancestral homes?”
He stated, “Almost 16 communities have been deserted. That is why we are here today to meet the council chairman. We want the government to evacuate the Meyatti Allah from our communities. Our indigenous hunters, who have been protecting us from the beginning, should be empowered with adequate equipment.
“You cannot simply bring in strangers and expect them to protect us while we have our own people capable of defending the community. This region is not the North; it is Yoruba land.
“We are extremely disappointed with the local government chairman. We booked an appointment with him today, and he refused to show up despite giving his assurance,” he added.
