Leaders and residents of eight communities in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State have given a group of Fulani herdsmen a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the communities over alleged security concerns and other disturbances.
The community leaders said the decision followed recent security challenges reported across parts of the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone, including cases of kidnapping.
One of the reported incidents occurred at Oloka village, while another involved the recent abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in some communities in Oriire Local Government Area.
Against this backdrop, residents and leaders of the affected communities in the Samaday area convened a meeting on Monday, where they resolved to give the herdsmen, who they said recently moved into the area, two days to vacate.
The affected communities are Ibapon Are Oluwamodupe, Ayedire, Mercy Land, Estate, Irewolede, Ona Igbala, Ifesowapo and Grace Land.
The meeting was attended by community leaders, including the Baale of Ibapon, Ashifat Akanji; Chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo (Home Headquarters), Prince Aderemi Olude; Seriki Fulani of Ibapon, Alhaji Idowu; as well as other representatives of the communities and the herdsmen.
Akanji, who announced the ultimatum on behalf of the communities, urged the herdsmen to comply with the directive and leave the area within the stipulated period.
He said the communities were not against Fulani residents who had lived peacefully in the area but were concerned about the presence of unfamiliar herdsmen.
The traditional ruler said, “We are declaring today, Monday, August 10, 2026, that they must leave within 48 hours in the name of myself, the communities’ leaders, the Seriki Fulani in Ibapon (Idowu), and Ogbomoso Parapo.
“We don’t know them. We have Fulanis who have been living with us here, whose head is Idowu, whom we issued ID cards. But these ones, we are unfamiliar with them, and recently we held a security meeting with the Commissioner of Police, who sternly warned us to be wary of strangers in our midst.
“We don’t cause trouble and we abide by the law, but we won’t wait until evil befalls us before taking action.”
Chairman of the eight communities, Mr Alagbe Oyebamiji, alleged that the herdsmen had caused problems in the affected communities and neighbouring areas.
According to him, their cattle had destroyed farmlands, damaged septic tanks and defecated on roads, creating what he described as health and safety risks.
He said, “Their livestock destroys our farms, damages our septic tanks (soak-away), defecates on the roads, which can cause accidents and transmit diseases, and menaces us with the stench, messing up the whole area.
“We had to report to law enforcement agents who drove them away, but they returned. So, we notified Ogbomoso Parapo, hence this step we jointly took.”
Olude said the ultimatum was aimed at protecting lives and property in the affected communities.
He explained that the communities initially claimed the herdsmen had said they were authorised to settle in the area by the Baale of Ibapon. However, the traditional ruler denied giving such permission.
According to him, the herdsmen subsequently claimed that the Seriki Fulani in the area, Idowu, had approved their presence, but he also denied the allegation.
Olude said a broader meeting was therefore convened on Monday, after which the 48-hour ultimatum was issued.
He added that the communities would take lawful steps if the herdsmen failed to leave after the deadline, stressing that the decision was in line with security agencies’ advice to report suspicious activities that could threaten public safety.
BACKSTORY:
Security concerns have continued to dominate discussions in parts of Oyo State, particularly across the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone, following reports of kidnapping and other criminal activities in some communities.
Residents in the area have expressed concerns over the safety of lives and property, with community leaders increasingly calling for vigilance and closer cooperation with security agencies.
The concerns were heightened by reported incidents in Oloka village and the recent abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in parts of Oriire Local Government Area.
Authorities and community stakeholders have also repeatedly warned residents to be cautious of unfamiliar persons and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
It was against this backdrop that leaders and residents of eight communities in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area convened a meeting to address security and environmental concerns surrounding a group of herdsmen who they said had recently settled in the area.
The communities subsequently resolved to give the herdsmen 48 hours to vacate, while stressing that the decision was aimed at preventing a potential security crisis and protecting residents and their property.
