National News Special Report
INVASION: PANIC AS FOREIGN HERDSMEN INVADE OYO, OGUN FOREST RESERVES
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Afnews Editor
Jun 16, 2019
Residents of towns and villages along the Opara Forest
Reserve in Oyo State and Imeko Forest Reserve in Ogun State are living in fear
following the invasion of the two reserves by herdsmen.
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Some residents of Imeko, Iwoye and Jabata told SUNDAY PUNCH
on Friday that the development had been a major source of concern them,
alleging that the herdsmen allowed their animals to destroy people's farms
while grazing in the areas.
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One of the residents of Iwoye, Adeyemi Olaosebikan, told our
correspondent on the telephone that inhabitants of Jabata village in the Imeko
Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State had deserted their community following
the killing of some indigenes during an attack.
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He said residents fled the community in May after four
persons were killed in the community, adding that residents of other border
communities were now living in fear.
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Olaosebikan stated, "Herdsmen from many countries in West
Africa have taken over the Opara Forest Reserve in Oyo State and Imeko Forest
Reserve in Ogun State. Their presence there is causing fear among the people.
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"In fact, resident have deserted Jabata Village which is in
Imeko Afon. Imeko Forest Reserve should be twice the size of Ibadan. It is 378
square miles. The Opara Forest Reserve is almost three times bigger than Imeko
Reserve.
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"Government is watching herdsmen from Bukina Faso, Mali and
other countries taking over an area that is that large. The forest reserves
belong to the Federal Government but state forest guards are the ones taking
care of them. However, it is obvious that the forest guards are not doing
anything there. So, this invasion is a time bomb.ÔÇØ
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Corroborating the claim, a resident of Imeko Afon, Joseph
Ogunwale, said the herdsmen, who invaded and occupied a tomato factory, being
built by the Oodua Investment Company Limited had yet to vacate the place
almost two months after.
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"Government took over the forest between 1908 and 1930. The
forest reserves are in the Nigeria-Republic of Benin border. These two reserves
are very large. Imeko Forest Reserve is bigger than Ibadan and Opara Forest
Reserve is almost three times bigger than Imeko Reserve,ÔÇØ he said.
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One of the prominent sons of Imeko, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, a
former lecturer at the Department of History, University of Lagos, told SUNDAY
PUNCH that the occupation of Imeko Forest Reserve by foreigners was a security
threat.
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Asiwaju said, "Many of them have taken residence in uncared
for, unguarded forests reserves along the international boundary. They cross
from northern part of Benin Republic to Nigeria. The government there does not
allow them to stay and they cross to Nigeria and move into the forests.ÔÇØ (Punchng)
