Fresh reports have emerged stating that herdsmen miscreants undergo military training where they acquire skills to plan and execute various banditry attacks.
According to Ekiti Council of Elders (ECE), herdsmen have established several camps in Government Forest Reserves where they teach each other the ropes of banditry.
According to Vanguard, ECE committe reported that “Some of their activities include armed robbery and kidnapping on the highways within the state and in neighbouring states. These bandits are reportedly capable of moving rapidly from their venues of operation to their hideouts and even other camps outside the state as the case may require”
In March 2019, ECE had raised alarm on the high influx of herdsmen into the state which led to the constitution of an eight-member committee on Land Usages by Non-Indigenes to look into the issue.
However, the committee who complied a report in November 2019 tendered it at the Jan 2020 edition of ECE meeting where the result of the findings was tabled.
Prof Banji Akintoye urged other members of the ECE to share their fearful findings with Southwest Governors who were fighting for the legality of Amotekun security outfit at the time.
“The influx of non-indigenes into Ekiti has reached a critical level. There is palpable apprehension in the minds of many indigenes of the potential negative consequences of this influx, especially as there is a feeling of loss of control over this development”
“Over the course of many years now, the Ekiti Council of Elders has received notices of this apprehension as well as observed same as individual members of various communities”.
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After meeting with traditional rulers in Ado-Ekiti, Ijero-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Ise-Ekiti, Oke Ako-Ekiti and Eda Oniyo-Ekiti, ECE committee found out that the herders have created a community for their kindred.
“In some cases, buildings are deliberately occupied albeit legally, to create ethnic havens. This is especially the case among the Hausas, who tend to live apart in their ‘Sabo enclave’.
“Overtime, Sabo neighbourhoods become autonomous communities with regards to commercial, residential and cultural activities thus becoming a law unto themselves.”
It was further discovered that herdsmen miscreants usually roam freely outside lands they have been assigned and indigenes have caught them on several occasions speaking Ilorin dialect.
At first, they paid compensation for damage caused by their cattle on lands outside the assigned grazing areas.
However, they ignored complaints from indigenes with time and became confrontational.
“Initially, they tend to seek permission to settle on the land and graze their cattle, albeit temporarily.
“However, they soon roam freely beyond the area in which they are permitted to graze their cattle on”
“Many natives claim that such encroachments are perpetrated by new arrival of pastoralists.
“This claim, has, however, been challenged by people who reported to have caught and challenged such herders speaking Ilorin dialect.
“Those herders are reported to constantly graze their cattle on farm crops with impunity.
“Initially, when accosted, they would pay some compensation.
“Over time, however, they just ignore the complaints and claims of their landlords and other farmers.
“Some are even reported to seek confrontation by asking farmers whether they want to fight over their crops which these herders are grazing on.
“Indeed there are cases of these herdsmen raping, maiming and killing of the indigenes without provocation.
“While the herdsmen in illegal encroachments and ravaging of farmlands across the length and breadth of Ekiti State, the people of the savannah belt in Oke Ako, Ipao, Itapaji, feel especially oppressed.
“These people believe that their plight is aggravated by nearby dams constructed by the Oodua Investment Corporation.
“As a matter of fact, they want these dams demolished as they serve as watering holes for cattle in their migrations from Senegal to the horn of Africa.
“Illegal commercial exploitation of agricultural produce is yet another finding of the committee.
“In many places, where herdsmen have successfully dislodged indigenes from their farmlands, these herdsmen are reportedly exploiting and selling of produce.
“Such produce include fruits like oranges, mangoes and bananas. They also include cash crops like cocoa, plantain and cashew.
“Some marabouts are also reportedly buying large tracts of farmland from ignorant chiefs and heads of households.
“Thereafter they legitimize the transaction by obtaining Certificates of Occupancy.
“They then proceed to erect facilities for the practice of their occupation in utter disregard of existing local government or state government regulations and byelaws.
However, the Police has denied any knowledge of rogue herdsmen undergoing military training.
Sunday Abutu, Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command said: “We are not aware of any of such training going on. The Command is not aware. Whoever has such information should let us know and we would take action.