By Foluso Adelaja, Editor, THE STATEPOST
Baale Rasak Adesina of Opeji (left), the Adatan Area Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ayo Edun and other police officers at the town hall meeting called by the Baale in Opeji to broker peace between residents of the town and Fulani herdsmen.
Baale Rasak Adesina, a traditional leader in Opeji, a town in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State is now neck deep in a one-man crusade to free his town from the serial virulent molestations of Fulani herdsmen.
THE STATEPOST learnt that though the Fulani have been living in Opeji for sometimes and the people have been tolerating their impunity for the past six years but the escalating rate and unbearable dimension is now agitating the Baale and dwellers of the town.
Some of the residents of Opeji and the Fulani chieftains at the town hall meeting in Opeji.
The increased rate in terror was brought about by the sudden surge in the population of Opeji by the Fulani who were displaced at Igangan, Oyo State by the crusade of red hot Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho.
The new settlers have not only joined the Fulani in Opeji to make the population of Fulani to almost outnumber the natives and other residents of the town but they are now unleashing terror on the innocent people and this affrighted the Baale of Opeji.
In his desperation, the agitated Baale told us that he had taken up the matter to all necessary authorities in the state and these include the state government, the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and security agencies in the state.
Baale Adesina has not stopped at that as he had also held an emergency town hall meeting which was attended by all who is who in the town including all the chieftains of the Fulani, Bororo and Hausa in Opeji where the riot act was read to the rampaging terrorists.
The meeting had in attendance, the Adatan Police Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ayo Edun, the Bode Olude DPO, Olurotimi Kalejaye, the police officer for Opeji, Awala Ajakaye, all the chiefs of Opeji and notable residents of the town.
Also at the meeting were the Seriki of the Bororo in the town, Alhaji Yayah Daule, the Seriki Fulani, Umaru Abdullahi, the Seriki of the Hausa and all other leaders of the Fulani in Opeji.
At the meeting, the residents of the town enumerated the various atrocities of the Fulani in Opeji which included kidnapping, killing, maiming and deliberate destruction of farmlands.
The Fulani at the meeting too were adamant as they claimed to also have their own complaints too against the people of the town.
However, Baale Adesina insisted that all Fulani resident in Opeji must be law abiding and live by a seven point conditions or leave the town.
These conditions include the immediate banning of underage cattle herders as the children of the Fulani were said to be unamenable and they were said to be the chief culprits in impunity unleashed on the town.
The Fulani herdsmen were also warned not to carry any form of ammunition, including machete and knives while grazing their cattle and they should not enter any farm with their cattle.
The Baale also insisted that all Fulani in Opeji and those just entering must be registered at his palace. Fulani herdsmen were also required to wear uniforms with their names boldly emblazoned and their cattle must be identified with the names of their owners legibly written on them.
Farmers too were given strict warning not to kill any strayed cow on their farms without first reporting at the Baale’s palace
One of the Fulani chieftains at the meeting said there was no need to wear uniforms as it could be removed to perpetrate evil. He also pleaded that they should be permitted to carry cutlass.
But Baale Adesina insisted on the laid out conditions, demanded total compliance or leave the town in peace.
