Save Our Souls! Terrorists Have Invaded Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve in Oyo, Rep Member Cries Out
Olufemi Orunsola
Reports reaching the news desk of OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News have it that a member of the House of Representatives, representing Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Mrs Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has on Saturday, raised an alarm that her constituency has been invaded by terrorists, crying out for urgent intervention to stop their destructive activities.
OTN News reports that the Federal Legislator, Akande-Sadipe, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Olamilekan Olusada, raised an alarm that the terrorists have invaded Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve and surrounding communities within her constituency.
The law maker lamented that the terrorists and armed herdsmen had been destroying farm produce and intimidating local farmers, adding that, "The herdsmen use weapons such as guns and cutlasses to instil fear in residents of Ogunmakin."
She maintained that the situation had put in jeopardy the means of livelihood of farmers, thereby exacerbating economic crisis and food insecurity in the South-West region.
According to her, "There is an urgent need to do something now so as to avert a further loss of lives, and prevent humanitarian and food security crisis.
The lawmaker therefore called on relevant arms of the Federal government and security agencies to intervene before people in her constituency were completely wiped out from their ancestral homes.
OTN News further reports that Akande-Sadipe, who is Chairperson of the House Committee on Humanitarian Services, has accused the armed herdsmen of “a deliberate agenda to destroy farm produce and intimidate local farmers”.
She revealed that "In spite of multiple reports sent to law enforcement agencies, no decisive action has been taken to address the situation, leaving farmers vulnerable and unprotected", noting further that "The failure to act swiftly has emboldened the perpetrators, leading to increased attacks, destruction of crops and threats to lives and property, with the risk of further escalation if immediate action is not taken".
Making a reference to how a similar invasion of herdsmen and terrorists of Igangan communities, she demanded for urgent resolution of the case the same way the Igangan crisis was resolved, where decisive steps were taken to address similar issues, including enforcement of anti-open grazing laws to restore peace and protect farmers.
Akande-Sadipe therefore called for an immediate investigation into the reported cases of intimidation, destruction of farmlands and use of weapons by herdsmen in the area.
The lawmaker urged for an uncompromising investigation aimed at ensuring the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
In relations to the damages already done to the invaded communities, the Oluyole Law maker demanded that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide immediate relief materials to affected farmers and communities.
The lawmaker also expressed optimism that such support would go a long way in mitigating the impact of the crisis on their livelihood, noting that “It will also enable them to recover from losses incurred and resume agricultural activities."
Concluding, Akande-Sadipe requested an immediate conduct of an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve and their environs to assess the degree of damages done and properly weigh into the matter before it aggravates beyond control.
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