The residents of Ogidi community in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State have appealed to the state government for adequate security of lives and property in the area.
This followed the incessant attacks on the community by Fulani herdsmen and armed robbers who are maiming, killing and stealing valuables.
The National President of Ogidi Development Association, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, made this appeal while speaking at the 2014 Ogidi Day and celebration at the Community Town Hall at the weekend.
Ipinmisho who expressed worries at the development, stressed that the issue requires urgent attention of the government and relevant stakeholders.
“Our particular concern is the continued incursion of Fulani nomads into our community. We are a peace loving people, having nothing against visitors settling among us. However, the Fulani nomads, having no respects for the law, having scant regard for human life and taking delight in strangulating the economic life line of our people”, he stated.
He pointed out that in 2011, the Fulani herdsmen hacked down an elderly member of the community without provocation, adding that law enforcement agencies brokered peace at the time and they have continued in their wayward manner to threaten the lives and property of our people”.
“That we are not at war with them today speaks much about our tolerance as a people. However, in a situation where herds of cattle are led to destroy the labour of our farmers and where they are even afraid to go to their farms due to continued molestation by the Fulani remains a threat to peace”.
“We have seen the level of evil attributed to the Fulani in parts country and we do not want to begin to imagine a time when they set our houses on fire and gun down our people”, he noted
Ipinmisho maintained that elements suspected to be linked to herdsmen have often times laid siege to the Kabba-Ogidi and Ogidi -Ayere roads, as well as Kabba-Ipele road robbing people.
