Yoruba Union Raises Alarm Over Alleged Influx Of Fulani Extremists, Demands Urgent Action From South-West Governors

Ikeja, Lagos State– The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has raised serious concerns over a dangerous influx of Fulani extremists into the South-West region and parts of Kwara State, alleging widespread attacks, killings, and kidnappings of Yoruba people.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Olusola Badero, and released through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the union called on the governors of the South-West states, including Kwara and Kogi States, to take immediate and decisive action to halt the occupation of Yoruba forests and ancestral lands.

The group alleged that armed Fulani elements fleeing the northern part of the country are relocating to the South-West and forcefully taking control of communities and natural resources.

“We have gotten intelligence that the terrorist Fulani herdsmen who are leaving the Northern part of the country are migrating to the South-West and taking over all our ancestral land and mineral resources,” Yoruba said.

The union further alleged that many Yoruba communities have been displaced due to incessant attacks, with residents fleeing their homes for safety amid rising insecurity.

According to the group, kidnappings have become a daily occurrence across several states in the region, with victims’ families forced to sell their properties to pay ransoms.

“We are calling on South-West governors, including Kwara and Kogi, to act fast. Our people are being kidnapped on a daily basis while ransoms are being paid. Yoruba people are forced to sell their properties and pay ransoms for these murderous extremist Fulani herdsmen,” Yoruba Union said.

The group criticised state governors for allegedly failing to justify the security votes allocated to them, arguing that despite the funds, insecurity continues to worsen across Yoruba land.

“Despite the fact that state governors are receiving security vote funds, killings and kidnappings have become the business of the day, while vulnerable women and children, alongside their husbands, are subjected to slavery by Fulani herdsmen who have no sympathy for humanity,” the union said.

Questioning the capacity of political leaders to guarantee peace, the group declared that governance loses legitimacy when citizens can no longer live safely.

“If our people are not safe under your watch, how do you think you can govern them with peace and tranquility? If our roads are bad and there is no electricity, how can these Fulani extremists be arrested during distress moments? Our roads are no longer safe. Our children are out of school because of daily attacks, and our farms have been taken over by terrorists,” Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said.

The union described the current security situation in Yoruba land as unprecedented, insisting that the region has never experienced such a level of external domination in its history.

“What we are experiencing in Yoruba land is unprecedented. Yoruba people have never been captured by any outsiders in the history of our land. Why would Fulani extremists from the far North dispossess us of our homes and take over our property, yet there are no consequences for such barbaric and horrific actions?” it queried.

Invoking Yoruba heritage and identity, the group said the situation amounts to humiliation of the people and their traditional institutions.

“We are known as Omo Alade. Why would some terrorists be using our crown to play and humiliate us and our heritage? Our traditional rulers have been killed and kidnapped on our land. We are calling on all ọmọlúwàbí, both at home and abroad, to stay away from politics and come together to rescue our forefathers’ land,” Yoruba Union said.

The union urged political office holders, traditional rulers and religious leaders across the region to be held accountable, stressing that the time for collective action is now.

“It is the right time to call all our governors, representatives, traditional rulers and religious leaders to accountability. People can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. To travel on the road has become a problem. Our children can no longer go to school. For how long will we continue like this?” the group asked.

The union call on all stakeholders in Yoruba land to unite against what it described as the growing threat.

“We urge all stakeholders in Yoruba land to rise up and come together to rescue our land from Fulani extremists,” they added.