Ebira today is not the Ebira of yesterday. Our present leaders—political, traditional, and religious—must rise to the challenge and take urgent note of the growing threat posed by Fulani herders in Ebiraland.
The Current Reality
Ebiraland, within and beyond, is now surrounded by Fulani settlements. While we coexist peacefully with other ethnic groups such as the Igbo and Yoruba, the activities of some Fulani cattle herders have become a menace to our existence.
Today, less than 20% of Ebiras can still farm, while over 80% have abandoned farming due to the destructive incursions of herders into farmlands. Crops are trampled, harvests destroyed, and farmlands rendered useless. More worrisome is the growing audacity—reports now suggest that Fulani settlers are allocating land to Ebira indigenes in our very own land. This is a ticking time bomb!
A Lesson from History
Our great forefathers resisted Fulani conquest at the height of their expansion, unlike the Yoruba of Ilorin whose land was overtaken, and to this day, an Emir of Fulani descent presides there. That history must never be allowed to repeat itself in Ebiraland.
The Economic and Social Cost
Farming has always been the backbone of Ebira livelihood, culture, and survival. With over 80% of our farmers driven away from their farmlands, hunger looms large. Food prices rise, unemployment worsens, and our youths—frustrated and idle—become vulnerable to crime, drugs, and violence.
What is at stake is not only farmland but also the future of our children, the dignity of our people, and the survival of our cultural identity.
The Call to Action
I strongly call on all the Ohi of every district to convene urgent and sensitive meetings with our farmers, community leaders, and security stakeholders to deliberate and find lasting solutions to this menace. Silence or delay will only embolden the aggressors.
I also urge all HRH Ohi(s) to summon Ebira farmers for a stakeholders’ summit where a common front will be established. Our local vigilantes, hunters, and traditional security structures must also be strengthened to protect our communities.
Our Leaders Must Not Sleep
Political office holders at all levels—House of Assembly members, federal representatives, senators, commissioners, and even those in Abuja—must raise this matter with urgency. It is not a fight for farmers alone, but for every Ebira son and daughter. If our lands are lost, our heritage is lost forever.
Unity is Our Strength
We must put aside political, tribal, and religious divisions and come together as one people. Only a united Ebira nation can resist this creeping domination. Our forefathers fought with courage and defended this land. The question before us today is: will we do the same, or will we fold our arms until it is too late?
Ebiraland must wake up!
– Comrade Jélìl Adabara writes from Okene.
