Abdulkadri Saliu, the now-ejected Seriki Fulani of Igangan in Oyo State’s Ibarapa North-West Local Council Development Area, says he opposes calls for the release of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.
Igboho, who has been imprisoned in the Benin Republic for over six months, stormed Igangan in January 2021 and warned the herders accused of committing crimes in the town to stop. He had later issued an ultimatum for Saliu and his men to leave town.
Sarkin Fulani, who had been evicted and had relocated to Ilorin since the incident, said his only consolation was that he was still alive.
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Speaking of the January 22, 2021 incident, he stated that whenever he recalls the day, he always bursts into tears, even as he maintained his innocence over the community’s kidnappings and killings.
“Since the problem began, only three Yoruba people have been kidnapped in Igangan; the others were Fulani.”
“In the process, I lost my younger brother.” Several of my relatives were killed.
You can’t even count how many cows were rustled. It was a difficult time for me. “I lost everything I had worked for my entire life, and life has been extremely difficult since last year when Sunday Igboho stormed my settlement,” he said.
Speaking about the earlier quit notice issued by Igboho prior to his eviction, Sarki explained that he did not take the eviction notice lightly and received assurance from the state government following the quit notice, but he was surprised that Igboho carried out his threat without anyone challenging him.
“For those seven days, the state government sent 14 police officers to us to guide us, but the police officers were overpowered by Sunday Igboho’s men,” he said. “This is why I oppose the call for Igboho’s release.”
I’m sure he’s regretting his actions right now. Any Nigerian can live anywhere in the country, and I’ve always said that criminals can be found anywhere.
Criminals exist among the Yoruba, just as they do among the Fulani. This is where we expected the government to intervene and apprehend those with criminal intent.”
Saliu stated that one year later, he is still hopeful that justice will be served and that he will be compensated for the properties he lost during the crisis.
