The Agbekoya Farmers Society has vowed to resist any attack on the south west communities by bandits.
The association’s president-general, High Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola, who stated this at the inauguration of the newly elected executive members and installation of new Agbekoya chieftaincy holders by the Agbekoya Farmers Society of Nigeria in Ibadan, said the association was prepared to confront any bandit who might attack communities in the South-West.
He said, “About what the Balogun Olubadan said that some bandits are planning to come to Oyo State, let them come. They will meet us on the ground. We still have charms left for us by our forefathers who fought the war.”
Okikiola alleged that armed herders had been attacking farmers and invading farmlands in the South-West for years, saying the situation became more frequent under successive administrations.
He claimed that ‘Agbekoya’ had contributed significantly to security efforts in the region, but deliberately avoided publicity over its activities.
“We have done a lot on the security of the South-West, but we usually don’t make a noise like others who would say they have killed 10 or 20 bandits,” he said.
According to him, the association’s approach was aimed at deterring criminals from attacking farming communities.
He cited an incident in Ondo State, where he said some persons abducted by suspected bandits were rescued following an intervention by Agbekoya members.
He said: “There are so many instances. For example, in Ondo State recently, bandits kidnapped some people and Agbekoya in Ondo went after them, engaged them and freed all those in captivity. They arrested and tied up the bandits.”
Okikiola further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu recently invited the association to Abuja for a security meeting, saying Agbekoya enjoys the support of the Federal Government and the Oyo State government.
“Recently, President Tinubu invited us to Abuja for a security meeting. So, we have the support of President Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde.
“We do visit governors in the South-West, but not for money; we don’t go about begging for money,” he added.
Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Mr Abayomi Fagbenro, described farmers and rural dwellers as critical partners in the government’s security architecture.
The governor’s speech, which was read by the Head of Operations, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Mr Akin Oyedele, noted that farmers and residents of rural communities were often the first to observe suspicious movements and other signs of emerging security threats.
“Our farmers and others who live in the villages and farming communities are often the first to notice unusual movements, unfamiliar faces and emerging threats.
“You are, in many respects, the eyes and ears of the government at the grassroots. And as a government, we consider Agbekoya as valuable partners in our collective efforts to protect lives, property and livelihoods,” he said.
Makinde stressed the strong link between security and food production, noting that insecurity in farming communities could undermine agricultural development and food security.
“There is no security without food security, and there can’t be food security without farmers’ security. In a nutshell, there can be no meaningful agricultural development without security in our rural and even urban communities,” he said.
Speaking with journalists after the event, the newly installed Governor of Agbekoya Farmers Society in Oyo State, Chief Ashagidigbi Bello, pledged to strengthen the protection of farmers across the South-West.
Earlier, the Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland and a prominent member of the Olubadan-in-Council, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, had raised the alarm over alleged plans by Fulani bandits to invade Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
