BIG STORY
Soldiers Escort Herdsmen To Ogun Villages, Flogged Obas, Others For Rejecting Herders
- /home/porsch10/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://porscheclassy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Soldiers-in-Yewa-1000x600.jpg&description=Soldiers Escort Herdsmen To Ogun Villages, Flogged Obas, Others For Rejecting Herders', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/porsch10/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 69
https://porscheclassy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Soldiers-in-Yewa-1000x600.jpg&description=Soldiers Escort Herdsmen To Ogun Villages, Flogged Obas, Others For Rejecting Herders', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
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.”
The Gusau International Airport (GIA) in Zamfara State has passed the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) quality assurance tests and inspections ahead of the commencement of commercial operations next month.
The development comes as the airport prepares to begin scheduled commercial flights between Gusau and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to a statement by the state government on Tuesday, XEJet Limited is expected to operate bi-weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays from the first week of October.
An official of a leading Nigerian aviation agency said the airport’s instrument flight procedures had undergone ICAO’s 17-step quality assurance and approval process, with GIA completing and passing all the stages.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, said the process was part of Nigeria’s efforts to implement corrective measures recommended by ICAO.
ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for coordinating international air navigation standards and promoting the safe and orderly development of international air transport.
Nigeria’s civil aviation system recorded an effective implementation (EI) score of 75 percent after an ICAO audit in 2023.
The official said ICAO conducted a follow-up inspection, known as the ICAO coordinated validation mission (ICVM), in April 2026, during which Nigeria had a significant safety concern (SSC).
He said the concern was resolved within the prescribed 40-day period, although Nigeria was required to implement associated medium-term corrective action plans.
As part of the corrective measures, the instrument flight procedures at several Nigerian airports were subjected to ICAO’s 17-step quality assurance and approval process.
“Of all the airports assessed, only Gusau International Airport (GIA) completed and passed all the 17 steps,” the senior aviation official said.
“The evidence of GIA’s successful completion of this demanding process formed part of the documentation submitted to ICAO.
“Following the ICVM, Nigeria achieved an impressive EI score of 95.1%.”
On September 21, the Zamfara government signed an air route development partnership agreement with XEJet for scheduled commercial flights between Gusau and Abuja.
The agreement is expected to enhance access to Zamfara and open greater opportunities for investors, businesses, and visitors.
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos after ending his working vacation in France.
The President arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Tuesday, where Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries were on hand to receive him.
The President’s arrival was confirmed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, who posted on X, “Landing. Welcome home, Mr President!”
Tinubu had departed Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, spending one week in London before travelling to Paris.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu departed Paris for Lagos, where he is expected to hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates.
“While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections,” the statement read.
The Presidency said Tinubu chose to travel to Lagos first to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 1993 presidential election and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
On October 1, Independence Day, the President is expected to attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
Tinubu’s working vacation also included a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Details later…
The United States has commended Nigeria’s response to recent attacks in the Middle Belt.
The US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, in an X post on Tuesday, also urged the federal government to sustain efforts to protect communities in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
“The United States commends Nigeria’s strong response to the latest attacks from Fulani militant groups,” the bureau said.
“We will continue to work with the Nigerian government to protect Christians in the Middle Belt.
“We urge Nigeria to continue the momentum and defend the Barkin Ladi communities in particular.”
Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly the north-central region comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, among others, has witnessed varying levels of armed attacks, kidnapping, communal violence and farmer-herder conflicts in recent months.
The US comment comes amid renewed insecurity in parts of the country, particularly among communities in Barkin Ladi, where a series of attacks and reprisals have been reported in recent months.
On September 27, six people were killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Lajam Marit village, Ropp district, Barkin Ladi.
The victims were reportedly shot dead at the site, while the two injured persons were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Five days earlier, the Plateau government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs following a series of attacks, attempted attacks and reprisals. Residents were ordered to remain indoors between 6 pm and 6 am until further notice.
The curfew followed an incident in which a resident, Andy Samuel, a priest, was reportedly shot dead at Marit Junction, while another person sustained injuries.
Troops later came under attack after leaving the hospital, with the assailants suspected of carrying out retaliatory strikes following earlier violence in parts of Barkin Ladi.
On September 20, at least five Fulani men were reportedly killed after suspected Berom militias attacked their vehicle in Barkin Ladi.
The victims were travelling to a market in Jos South when their vehicle came under attack near a security checkpoint. The assailants reportedly opened fire, killing all five occupants.
On September 10, two people were killed after suspected armed militia attacked Fulani herders along the Jong-Nyeriwei road and in Dorowa Babuje community, also in Barkin Ladi.
One of the victims was identified as 19-year-old Ishaku Yakubu, while another man, identified as Andata, was reportedly shot dead around Marit Junction in Dorowa Babuje. Several cattle were also reportedly rustled during the attacks.
The attacks have heightened security concerns in Barkin Ladi and other parts of Plateau, with authorities deploying troops and imposing restrictions in some affected areas to prevent further violence and reprisals.
-
NEWS3 days agoZITDA Deploys Internet Connectivity at Gusau International Airport Ahead of October 1 Commercial Operations
-
BIG STORY5 days agoTinubu to Nigerians: I’m Correcting Mistakes of Past Administrations, Allow Me to Finish The Work
-
POLITICS5 days agoOyo 2027: Inside the Alli-Adedeji Ticket and the ‘2 for 1’ Strategy —- By Seun Oloketuyi
-
BIG STORY5 days agoAnyone Pushing for Return of Petrol Subsidy Doesn’t Mean Well for Nigeria —- Alex Otti
-
BIG STORY3 days agoTinubu Hale and Hearty, He Will Return to Nigeria This Week —- Onanuga
-
BIG STORY2 days agoThree Nigerians Killed in South Africa Within Four Days — Consulate
-
BIG STORY3 days agoNewlywed Businessman Excretes 72 Wraps of Cocaine At Enugu Airport
-
BIG STORY1 day agoCourt Sentences Four to Death Over Kidnapping in Edo