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There is a renewed tension in Ayete, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, following the alleged takeover of two villages by herdsmen.
Residents of Ayete told The Punch that a Fulani herdsman, Iskilu Wakil, was asked to leave the villages because he did not buy the land he was occupying.
This was said to have infuriated Wakil, who claimed he was a combatant with arms and ammunition.
The Asawo of Ayete, Oba Emmanuel Okeniyi, said those who have farms in the villages had fled over fear they might be attacked by Wakil.
“They asked him to leave the area. I don’t think he bought the land from anybody and the owners of the land asked him to leave. But rather than leaving, he has become a terror. The Fulani there usually destroy their farms.
“The farmers in the villages have fled their places, they are just loafing about now. Government has deployed Amotekun personnel in Ayete. They came yesterday ( Friday) but I haven’t heard that they have gone to those villages,” Oba Okeniyi said.
A resident of Ayete, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Wakil and his followers barricaded the road leading to the villages, adding that they threatened to shoot dead any villager who moved close to the place.
He said:“This started three days ago. The villagers had fled the place. The Amotekun personnel deployed by Oyo State Government are in Ayete, they have not gone to those villages. The police are not going there despite the several distress calls made to them.
“The hunters in the town are ready to face Wakil and his followers but they are afraid because they believe if they fight and kill him, the Federal Government will move against them. But the same Federal Government is not doing anything to ameliorate the plight of the people now. People believe fighting against herdsmen is like fighting against the Federal Government.
“One of the sons of Seriki Fulani who fled Igangan told me that Yoruba people should bring Sunday Igboho to face Wakil. He said he would finish him and his followers.”