Residents, Obas, and some monarchs of Ketu-speaking villages in Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State have lamented that they were brutalized by soldiers who escorted herdsmen to graze in their communities.

In separate interviews with The Nation, the residents narrated that the soldiers, numbering about 10, flogged them for daring to prevent the herders from grazing.

It was learnt that one of the residents, identified simply as Mulero, was beaten mercilessly, leaving him with serious injuries, for insisting that the herdsmen would not be allowed to graze.

It was also gathered that traditional rulers were beaten after they were forced to convoke a meeting.

According to them, the herdsmen, who had departed the village after their continued presence was rejected suddenly resurfaced about 2 pm on December 19, 2020, with the soldiers from the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta.

The soldiers headed straight to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Olaleye Adigun, calling out the villagers and warning them against preventing the evicted herdsmen from returning to the village.

It was in the middle of this strange encounter that the soldiers were told that the herders would not be allowed to remain in the community because of their brutal killing of residents and the destruction of their farmlands in recent times.

One of the residents, identified simply as Mulero, said, “Everyone was frightened by the action and utterances of the soldiers but I summoned the courage to tell them how a Geography teacher Mr. Yomi Akinola and two students of Community High School, Ibeku, among others, were killed by the herdsmen while our women were raped and killed on their ways to the farm.

“Before I knew it, the herdsmen had motioned to the soldiers who immediately pulled me out of the audience and flogged me mercilessly with a wire whip. It was as if I stole something valuable.

“As I speak, my body still aches because of the wounds, even after I had been treated in a hospital.

“Numerous other villagers were subjected to the brutal act as the soldiers escorted the herdsmen from one village to another all in a bid to intimidate us into allowing them to graze on our farms.”

Also, indigenes of Iselu, Ibeku, Agbon-Ojodu, Asa, and other villages were also harassed and assaulted by the soldiers at the instance of the herdsmen.

One of them, Mulero’s brother, Gabriel, was said to be given deafening slaps after he was identified as one of those who resisted the herdsmen’s attempt to graze.

Narrating their experience in a petition, the traditional rulers said the herdsmen confirmed that they invited the soldiers to intimidate, harass, and beat them.

The traditional rulers are the Oniggua of Iggualand, Oba Micheal Dosumu; the Eselu of Iseluland, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi; and the Alademeso of Igan Alade, Oba Gabriel Olalowo.

The monarchs in a petition addressed to the Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta, titled, ‘matter of urgency,’ dated January 7, 2020, said, “The Baale was asked to gather his subjects and people from nearby villages which he did. The suspected soldiers told the people that the purpose of their visit was to inform them that the Fulani herders would be coming into their communities to graze cows.

“After their address, they asked if anyone had a question or comment to make in reaction to the information. Expectedly, one Mr Seye Mulero responded by calling the attention of the soldiers to the inherent challenges of allowing the herders in their communities based on the sad previous experiences in the community.

“That the said Seye Mulero further cited past killings, maiming, and destruction of farms to buttress his point. Sadly, at this point, the soldiers seized him and mercilessly beat him up.

“In the same manner, the Fulani herders in the company of the suspected soldiers left Ibeku for Asa, the adjoining village to address the Baale of Asa and his subjects as they had earlier done at Ibeku, the people refused to respond, having heard what transpired at Ibeku.

“However, one of the Fulani herders sighted some of the people in the audience and picked on them as those that purportedly shouted on them at Ibeku while brutalizing their victim (Seye Mulero). The herders asked the soldiers to also deal with them.”

Foremost Nigerian political critic and a former aviation minister, Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode has warned the Nigerian inspector general of police and the presidency against arresting the Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho, over a quit notice he issued to kidnappers and bandits operating in Ibarapa, Oyo State.

Fani-Kayode who has been at the forefront of criticising the operation of killer bandits, herdsmen, in all parts of Nigeria, gave the warning yesterday after Sunday Igboho visited the Ibarapa Area in Oyo State, shortly after the expiration of the notice of quit.

The fierce political critic, Fani-Kayode, In series of tweets, warned President Buhari and the IGP of dire consequences if Sunday Igboho is arrested.

It would be dangerous, reckless & counter productive for Buhari to ARREST or KILL Sunday Igboho. When the Northern youths demanded that Igbos should leave the north no-one was arrested. Why should Sunday be arrested or killed for asking KILLER Fulani herdsmen to leave SW? 1/4

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 23, 2021

..I advise the FG to tread softly because Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation because he has spoken for the people. Kill him & you make him a martyr for Oduduwa, arrest him & you make him the greatest hero of the Yoruba since independence. Whichever way he wins.2/4

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 23, 2021

..The way to solve the problem is to arrest the herdsmen that kill & kidnap our people in the SW & not to arrest or kill those that are standing up & speaking for their victims. Sunday did not ask for ALL Fulanis to leave SW. He asked for the killers, terrorists& kidnappers..3/4

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 23, 2021

…amongst them to leave Ibarapa & the Yoruba people LOVE him for it. Is that a crime? As long as he maintains the peace & does not indulge in or encourage any violence I do not see what he has done wrong? In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising up I identified him as a young man…

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 23, 2021

…to watch. I wrote an essay about him and I said his courage would take him far. I was proved right. Today I identify Sunday Igboho who has stood up against wickedness, injustice & apartheied in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 23, 2021

He noted that Igboho would become an Oduduwa martyr if he is killed and a hero if arrested as the masses, would resist such arrest of someone perceived to be fighting a just course.

According to Fani-Kayode, “It would be dangerous, reckless and counter-productive for Buhari to arrest or kill Sunday Igboho. When the Northern youths demanded that Igbos should leave the north, no-one was arrested. Why should Sunday be arrested or killed for asking killer Fulani herdsmen to leave South-West?

But, In an interview with the BBC, Senior Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media Mallam Garba Shehu confirmed that the Inspector General of Police. Mr Mohammed Adamu has issued an arrest order against the Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho.

Fani-Kayode cautioned Federal government to rather look the way of dialogue than exerting force on the freedom fighter.

He noted the issue could spiral into ethnic violence and unnecessary uprising if caution is thrown to the wind.

“I advise the FG to tread softly because Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation because he has spoken for the people. Kill him and you make him a martyr for Oduduwa, arrest him and you make him the greatest hero of the Yoruba since independence. Whichever way he wins. He wondered if the best solution to solving the problem is not to arrest the herdsmen that kill and kidnap the people in the South-West, but arresting or killing those that are standing up and speaking for their victims.?

“Sunday did not ask for all Fulanis to leave South-West. He asked for the killers, terrorists and kidnappers amongst them to leave Ibarapa and the Yoruba people love him for it. Is that a crime? As long as he maintains the peace and does not indulge in or encourage any violence, I do not see what he has done wrong?

“In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising up, I identified him as a young man to watch. I wrote an essay about him and I said his courage would take him far. I was proved right. Today I identify Sunday Igboho who has stood up against wickedness, injustice & apartheid in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage.

Larry King, American talk show legend, has died after receiving treatment for COVID-19.

Aged 87, the veteran broadcaster died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles.

Confirming the tragic news, Ora Media Company, which he co-founded, said his funeral arrangements would be announced later.

“With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the sad death of our co-founder, host, and friend Larry King,” the statement read.

“For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television, and digital media, Larry’s may thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster.

“Additionally, while it was his name appearing in the shows’ titles, Larry always viewed his interview subjects as the true stars of his programs, and himself as merely an unbiased conduit between the guest and audience.

“Whether he was interviewing a U.S. president, foreign leader, celebrity, scandal-ridden personage, or an everyman, Larry liked to ask short, direct, uncomplicated questions.

“He believed concise questions usually provided the best answers, and he was not wrong in that belief…

“Ora Media sends our condolences to his surviving children Larry, Jr, Chance, Cannon, and the entire King family.

“Funeral services and a memorial service will be announced later in co-ordination with the King family, who ask for privacy at this time.”