Residents of Erunwen in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, have continued to cry out to the government to save their lives and properties from the invading Fulani herdsmen.
The Fulanis were alleged to be maiming, killing and destroying farms, houses and other properties of the residents of the community
There have been several reports by the residents which the local council authority and police have been unable to adequately addressed, thereby making residents live in great fear.
Oriwu Sun also gathered that the Fulanis herdsmen are also constituting same threat and disturbance in other parts of the lkorodu Division, especially in Imota and Gberigbe.
Many of the residents, particularly the Christians who have been rallying round their community members to put a stop to the attacks by the Fulani invaders, have become targets of these militants who are doing everything to take over the social and economic lives of residents of Eruwen community and other affected areas.
The situation has become so unbearable that those who can no longer stand the onslaught have had to abandon their properties and flee the community, especially since there has not been any meaningful help from the police and other security agencies.
The head of the community, who spoke with our reporter, confirmed the constant attacks which he said are gradually turning the once lively community into a ghost town.
He appealed to the government for urgent intervention in dislodging the Fulanis whom he said were accepted into their community as herdsmen but are now threatening the peace and existence of the original land owners.
The community head also stated that they had sent emissary to the traditional institutions across Ikorodu Division on the issue but that the problem still persists.
Meanwhile, one of the mostly affected residents, Pastor Adelaja Onabanjo who has been known as the face of the community due to his preaching against the incursion of the Fulanis into their community, has alleged that his life and that of his family members are under serious threats for standing up against the alleged attackers.
In a petition on the alleged security threats constituted by the Fulani herdsmen at Erunwen, sent to the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District (under which Ikorodu Local Government exists in August at the National Assembly, Abuja, by Pastor Onabanjo, a copy of which was made available to Oriwu Sun he alleged constant threat to his life and that of his family members due to activities of the Fulani militants.
In the petition, Pastor Onabanjo alleged that police and other security agents within the community have been bought over and are working with the invaders, a situation which he said necessitated his petition to the Senator at the National Assembly.
“I want to urgently call your attention as the Senator representing my Local Government (Ikorodu Local Government in Lagos State Nigeria) at the Upper Chamber of the Legislative Arm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja, to the constant threat to my life and that of my family members from the dreadful Fulani militants who have declared me as their prime target being a preacher of the gospel as well as a voice for the voiceless and for standing in defence of my beloved native land even in the midst of stiff opposition and damning threats, both from these miscreants and terrorists as well as the security agents who seem to be working hand in hand with these attackers”, Pastor Onabanjo stated in his petition.
“In the spirit of the above, it is imperative for me to bring to your notice and call the attention of the senate committee on internal security through your office to the menace and hardship the Fulani herdsmen turned militants have subjected our revered village to”, he alleged.
“These Fulanis have technically and tactically run over our village as no one seems capable to stop their onslaught as they forcibly dispossessed our people of their lands, denying our farmers and fishermen access to both their farms and river. Aside the attacks on the community through constant raids and destruction of the residents’ farms which have badly affected their social and economic lives, it was also alleged that women and girls are constantly being raped without any help from security agents despite several reports to them.
“They maimed and killed some of our men who dared to challenge them. They are also harassing and raping our daughters, attacking churches and threatening the lives of the Christian leaders who dare to challenge them.
“What baffles me (most) was the way our so called security agents turned deaf hears to our cry for help and always come around when these terrorists are done perpetrating their terrorist act. Rather than conducting their investigation and bringing these attackers to book, the security agents would arrest our people, whom they are meant to protect, in place of these hoodlums”, Pastor Onabanjo further alleged.
“The security agents virtually give these militants full protection, which is the reason they go about their devilish activities with absolute impunity. Sometimes, they in turn give names of some of us who come to report to them to the militants who in turn come after us and our families”, he added.
“Moreover, it is worthy to note that these militants have the strong backing of both the religious and political leaders, particularly the President (of Federal Republic of Nigeria), whom they fondly chant his name “Sai Baba”, whenever they go on rampage”, he alleged.
The distraught resident of Eruwen and citizen of Nigeria, also alleged that the Fulanis rampaging in his community and others areas are allegedly carrying out what he termed the Fulani agenda of turning the country into a Muslim country and dominating other nationals therein.
Pastor Onabanjo, who declared Buhari administration as the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria, also stated that billions of taxpayers’ monies appropriated for security and defenses have been converted into personal use by those saddled with the task of managing the country, thereby exposing the citizenry to constant internal threats.
“This accounted for the kind of weapons and machineries at their disposal. In fact, their onslaught gained momentum immediately after the re – election and installation of the present administration as they go on rampage and started haunting those they perceived as enemies and those who are opposed to their political interest.
“This also gives credence to the report going around in our national Christian community about the sinister motive of ‘Islamization agenda’ and ‘forceful domination of other ethnic groups by the Fulanis in the Buhari administration.
“It is no longer surprising that the administration which claimed to be fighting corruption turned out to be the most corrupt administration in our nation’s history with billions of naira appropriated for security keep ending in personal pockets with nothing to show for it.
“In fact, this administration has failed absolutely in the most essential responsibility of a responsible government which is to protect the lives and properties of its people. We are currently at the mercy of these Fulani militants as our lives and that of our families are in constant and consistent danger while there is absolutely no end in sight.
He said that he was left with no option but to appeal to the Senator representing the people of Lagos East Senatorial which Ikorodu is part of, as residents of his community are being killed, maimed while women and girls are being raped with no help from local security personnel.
“This is becoming very unbearable for us as a people and as a community and we can no longer tolerate the maiming and killing of our people as well as the destruction of our properties.
“As it stands, no one can sleep in our community with both eyes closed because our lives are in constant threat of attacks from these ruthless terrorists. Our lives and that of our family members are in danger. And if nothing is done straight away, this shall be escalated to the international community which may help in calling to order our fanatic President if all our representatives continue to fail us. The next step from us will be ‘SAVE OUR LIVES’ campaign”, he said in the petition.
“In conclusion, I am optimistic that my petition will be adequately looked into and the right actions taken to address the ugly incidence as highlighted above before it gets out of hands”.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach Senator Adebayo Osinowo, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, proved abortive but one of his aides, who did not want his name in print, told our reporter that the Senator has received many petitions at his Constituency Office in Lagos and also in his Abuja office, which are receiving necessary attentions.
He added that security of lives and properties are major reasons the government is in place and as the elected representative of his people, the Senator will address any security issue from his constituents.
When also contacted, a chieftain of the local vigilance group, ‘Onyabo’, said that the situation at Eruwen and other communities where Fulanis are allegedly fomenting trouble, is beyond the local vigilance group.
“Sincerely, we are helpless and there is little or nothing that we can do except the government is ready to intervene and put an end to it.
“We, as a vigilance group, cannot operate without the police’s support. But a situation where they (Police) are not ready to face these people with superior fire power, there is nothing we can do except there is an intervention from higher authority”, he said.
He, however, added that they have been arresting some of the Hausa cart pushers, popularly called ‘Bola’ boys, that are suspected to be spying on some areas for nefarious actions and as well as others that are involved in other criminal acts.