In response to the escalating conflict between Fulani herdmen and residents in Ondo State, numerous villagers are reportedly fleeing their homes due to persistent attacks, kidnappings, and killings. The region has witnessed a surge in violence, disrupting daily life, undermining food security, displacing residents, and raising concerns about the safety of lives and property.
Over the past decade, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data has recorded a significant toll, with Nigeria losing at least 8,343 individuals to the invading fulanis since 2005, and over 4,000 farmers killed in the Southwestern part of the country from 2015 to date.
To address the rising insecurity, the governors of the six South-West states established the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed ‘Amotekun,’ on January 9, 2020. Despite state support, Amotekun has faced challenges countering the persistent attacks from herdsmen, leading to concerns among residents about the efficacy of the security outfit.
Some areas, notably Ifon and surrounding communities, have become no-go zones, with reports indicating that Amotekun has struggled to maintain control, prompting residents to abandon their homes in search of safety.
The precarious security situation has also adversely impacted farmers, with reports of attacks on farmlands and destruction of crops by Fulani herdsmen. Farmers in the region describe facing threats, ambushes, and destruction of their livelihoods, further exacerbating the challenges posed by the very presence of invading fulani herders.
As residents grapple with the escalating violence in Ondo state, observers are wondering why the collective of over 300 native tribes in Nigeria, find it near impossible to unite against the invaders
IMAGE: Tori News
