On May 25, 2019, the Yoruba Council of Elders sounded a loud, disturbing and chilling beagle to the Yoruba Nation. 1,123 Fulani sleeper cells had been identified by a University of Ife investigation group commissioned a sequel to the kidnap of Professor Yinka Adegbehingbe of the University of Ife by Fulani herdsmen. Security fault lines created by organized Fulani structures inserted into the Yoruba homeland by forces unidentified yet suspected to be highly structured, financed, and organized at a very high level. These Fulani cells are distributed in groups of at least 15 to 20 complete with women, arms, and other appurtenances of long-term occupation and are now strategically positioned in reserves created by Chief Obafemi Awolowo for Agricultural developments aka Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC) now abandoned.
The report suggested options to begin preparations to strengthen the home base, evaluate scope, assess risks, design strategies and craft appropriate tactics to respond to this new security threat. Political leadership especially the Governors of the South West States were given this report yet continued in their state of relaxed slumber in an insulated dream of safety with security votes safe in their personal accounts in reliable Banks. In a statement by Retired Col. Agbede, a key leader of this assignment on behalf of the Council: “As Yoruba elders and leaders in our own rights, we owe it a duty to speak up.
There are 1,123 cells belonging to armed herdsmen located across the Yoruba Nation. The cells are well organized and they appear to network with each other as the cells may not be known except that they has been increasing in their organizational skills.” When Governors ignored the peoples’ complaints and following consistent Fulani aggression, some communities consulted their age-old Pantheons and took local action. SEPTEMBER 20, sango 2018- THUNDER AT IJARE- THE SANGO OLUKOSO ACTION Within their limited capacity, and without support from the State or Local Governments, some communities tried to defend their territories. Thirty-six cows were reportedly struck dead late one Saturday by a thunderbolt on top of a sacred hill at Ijare town in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State. The dreadful hill known as ‘Oke Owa’ was located on the outskirts of the sleepy community. Speaking with reporters, the Olujare of Ijare, who spoke through his second in command, Chief Wemimo Olaniran, the Sapetu of Ijare, called it an act of God. The Sapetu said the herdsmen had been destroying their farmland for a very long time which had led to a confrontation on many occasions. He told reporters it came as a surprise that the Gods came into the matter so suddenly. His words: ”We were there this morning and we saw about 36 cows dead apart from the one inside the bush. It has happened and there is nothing we can do, we regard it as the act of God which nobody can query.’ The Sapetu said triumphantly. The invaders ran away from Ijare, never to terrorize our community again.
All these were precursors to the establishment of AMOTEKUN, an outfit the Federal Government insisted must not operate without the Police and must never carry weapons. The question left to ask now is: Is AMOTEKUN up to this task? If not, what else? Surely the ijare model may not work universally across the huge landscape of Oduduwa especially against sophisticated weaponry. Or Will the ‘Igboho’ template hold for long? Think about it.