Armed Herdsmen: 5,000 displaced in Ogun relocate to Benin Republic
By Bosun Soremekun
No fewer than 5000 indigenous people mostly of Yewa extraction have relocated to Benin Republic following attacks from heavily armed Fulani men
Locals said the armed men have also written to some communities in Ogun State saying they were coming in large numbers to attack the communities
Early this month, some communities were attacked by armed Fulani men said to put on bullet proof vests.
A community leader in Yewa, Abiodun Salami told Irohinoodua on Sunday that the refugees included women and children.
“We have been displaced in our homeland. We thought it was a dream. They were heavily armed. No one came to our aid. We could not believe it”
Thousands of the indigenous peoples displaced from their ancestral land arrived at Beninese villages in Pobè, a border commune located about 100 km from Cotonou.
The Nigerian refugees were made up of 2,163 men and 2,314 women.
The refugees arrived the commune of Pobè in the past one week, PANA news reporters
The report said “A total of 688 households are affected by this massive displacement of Nigerian citizens after the inter-community clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and the Yoruba in the border area.”
An official in Igana district and other political leaders have already visited the displaced Yoruba people.
The Beninoise authorities said they have been visited and that their essential needs will be provided for them.
The Mayor of Pobe, Adebayo Simon Dina said the Beninoise authorities will take care of the refugees.
Adebayo said “I can assure you, you are our brothers and sisters, you are our parents, you are our friends. So your safety will be assured. That is why the police are already mobilised for you,” said the mayor of Pobè, Adebayo Simon Dina.
