Vulnerable communities in Ekiti State have sent a save-our- soul message to governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,over planned attack by the bandits .The six communities are Itapaji, Iyemero, Oke-Ako, Irele, Ijowa and Ipao Ekiti.
The communities in Ekiti North Senatorial District ,which had witnessed multiple incidents of banditry and kidnappings in recent time also decried the alleged criminal silence by the authorities concerned over their plights
The six communities are locate in Ajoni Local Government area of Ekiti State.
Leaders from each of the affected communities,in joint petition declared that they were running out.of patience ,warning the government not to allow them to take laws into their hands .
They are Abimbola Omotoyinbo and Olubola Adeoye for Itapaji, Tosin Babalola and Chief Kehinde Abejide (Irele), Femi Bodunde (Oke-Ako), Joseph Osanipin (Iyemero) and Bayo Dada (Ipao).
They alleged that the vast forest that stretches from Ekiti to Kwara and Kogi have been the haven of Fulani terrorists.
Last week a middle aged woman in the community was raped to death, the woman’s son had been shot. He escaped with gunshot wounds and currently receiving treatment at the Ikole General Hospital in Ekiti state.
The traditional war chief in one of the Communities, Chief Kehinde Akogun said the communities do not trade in hard drugs and had to pay cash to secure the release of the corpse. But after releasing her corpse, the terrorists kidnapped four men after which they demanded for two virgins as ransom before their freedom.
The communities said their traditional farms have been invaded by heavily armed Fulani men who sent emissaries that the communities must vacate their fatherland.
‘We have been blocked of access to water and food. We cannot travel from our community to the local government headquarters for medicare. We are choked and can no longer breathe. Before the genocide, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor to come to our aid.’ In the letter the communities said the terrorists said their mission was to ‘kill us in large numbers and take our land.’
The communities said they are not afraid to arm themselves and defend their land but had chosen to remain calm in deference to the law of the land and constitutional order.
They also lamented that the Senator representing the area, Cyril Fasuyi and the House of Representative member, Akin Rotimi have neither visited nor made any comment but were engrossed with their re-election activities .
The letter reads in part :Our patience is running out. We do not think the Nigerian authorities should allow communities to start arming themselves .We do not want relief materials after we have been killed in large numbers. We do not want condolence statements of visits from politicians after we have been killed.
” In the past few years, the communities have been under ceaseless attacks that have led to the deaths of many people. Few months ago, the attacks were reinforced making many locals to flee. But many said they have no other places to go compelled to live under fear and trembling.
“About 40 people are said to be held captive by the terrorists. Many of them were kidnapped from Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara States.The community leaders said at present, thousands of locals wake up all day and all night not knowing when the invaders would strike. Last Saturday, thousands of indigenes of Irele took to the streets lamenting the seizure of their land by armed men. Apart from Ekamafa, adjacent communities of Ogbe, Eruku, Koro, Ejuku, Ponyan, Oga, Ogbom all in Kogi and Kwara States are confronted with the same or similar challenges.
The communities appreciated the past and present efforts of the Local Government Chairman and the State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji and hoped that the State Governor would do something before it was too late.
They urged Governments should be empowered to have state and local government police decrying a situation where Amotekun corps are not allowed to bear weapons equal to the threats posed by the terrorists.
‘We are children of warriors. Our great grand parents were warriors. We are also civilised people that believe in the rule of law instead of the rule of the jungle. Our patience is running out. We do not think the Nigerian authorities should allow communities to start arming themselves . We do not want relieve materials after we have been killed in large numbers. We do not want condolence statements of visits from politicians after we have been killed.” They warned
Meanwhile ,the Ekiti State Police Public Relations, Sunday Abutu said he was not aware of the situation but promised that the command would investigate the matter .