Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Oyo State, Salihu Abdulkadir, who was evicted from his base a few weeks ago, said there was no chance farmers and ranchers would not clash because cows have to eat grass.
However, he said there should be some kind of compensation for the affected farmers.
“Cows have to eat grass; that’s for sure. But the public perception of Fulani as kidnappers is wrong and I would never agree or succumb to it, because it is a false accusation against all of us, Fulani, ”he said.
Asked if that was a sufficient justification for farms to destroy livestock, Abdulkadir said: “No, but there is no chance that farmers and cattle breeders would not cross paths. For example, a driver would not pray for an accident, but it is certain that it will happen in the end. The same goes for cows and open grazing. It happens and it’s kind of a mistake. “
However, he described any cattle breeder whose cattle ate agricultural crops and refused compensation to the farm owner as meaningless, condemning such cattle breeders.
“Anyone whose cows eat agricultural crops and do not compensate the owner of the farm is meaningless. If it is a deliberate act, it is wrong. Let’s see, with how many farms can cows eat that would feed or satisfy them? Cows are never satisfied, that is not possible.
“However, I have helped many farmers to receive compensation for the destruction of farms by cows. I have not been told of any cases of farm destruction that I have not sent people to go and investigate the destruction of farms and whenever we find this to be true, I would order the Fulani to pay money to the farmer. An example was the case of the Agoro family in Igangan and many others. I have a record of problems affecting farmers. “
Speaking further, Seriki Fulani said Yoruba and Fulani in Igangan live together peacefully until recent allegations of abductions have been made against his people.
Guilty of the allegations, Abdulkadir said the kidnappers were actually from Yoruba extraction, noting that some Fulani were victims of such cases.
“We lived in harmony. I don’t know what caused the current strain in our relationship; I do not understand. But what I noticed was that the people of Ibarapa suddenly no longer wanted to see the people of Fulani. There was no quarrel between us; but I have recently noticed that there are allegations that the Fulani people are behind the abduction of people in the area, which is a lie.
“As far as I know, the people of Egangan were behind most of the abductions in the area. The natives were responsible for the kidnapping and some of the victims fled from them. They then resorted to keeping the victims in their homes while negotiating ransom with the victims ’relationships. I then made an effort to report them to the police in Ibarapi and to the police headquarters in Ibadan.
“There was an incident in which a Fulani man was abducted. We arranged for a few awake people to discover the house where the man was staying. A police investigation has arrested eight suspects in connection with the crime. Of the eight suspects, six are still in police custody. One of them escaped, but was arrested again. He is still in the police; was not taken to court. The four arrested were held in the Agoda prison while I spoke to you. “
Seriki Fulani rejected all claims that he was the main player of Fulani’s kidnappers in Ibarapi. He said the abduction was the result of co-operation between Fulani and the Yoruba people in the area.
“There is nothing like it. I am the person reporting the abductions of the victims of Yoruba and Fulani in the area. Records exist with the police, both in Eruwa and in Ibadan. People should endure the pain to find out. How can I be a godfather to kidnappers?
“Most of the abducted victims in Ibarapi were Fulani people and if I count them, they are up to 24. On the other hand, the number of Yoruba abducted in Igangan cannot be up to four.”
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