A human rights organisation, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative, SPANCI has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, over alleged destruction of farmlands by some suspected herdsmen in the State.
The group also revealed that the owners of the destroyed farmlands and properties who lodged complaints at the Police station nearest to the scenes of the incidents were allegedly arrested and detained unjustly by the Police.
SPANCI made these declarations via a petition signed by its President, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello.
The petition was made available to journalists Thursday evening.
Bello in the petition, alleged that that some herders grazed their cattle illegally in some communities such as Aladere, Tewure Iju, Elebe, Elemila, Onigba, Onikoko,Haho, Olopoto and Oloori in Oriire local government area of the State.
He added that a lot of farmlands and properties worth millions of naira belonging to innocent farmers have been destroyed.
He said that some of the farmers among whom are Bukari Laro, Bukari Jelili, Yunusa Musa and Ibrahim Leman who lodged complaints at Ikoyi Ile Police Divisional Headquarters were allegedly arrested.
He alleged that the complainants are currently in police custody as at the time of filing this report on Thursday.
Bello then used the opportunity to call on the IGP to rise up to the occasion and investigate the matter.
Bello in the letter which was also addressed to Makinde called on the governor to use his good office to salvage the situation.
“We humbly request that your honorable office investigate this matter and call the Ikoyi Ile Police and the Oyo command unit who have detained this people without proper investigation to order and release the detained people,” Bello said.
Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade when contacted, confirmed the arrest of the farmers.
He said that the farmers were arrested because they allegedly poisoned the water in the Fulani’s camp.
He said that the farmers did not report the case of alleged destruction of their crops to the Police, but went ahead to allegedly poison the water at the Fulani’s camp.
“They were petitioned and that is why they were arrested. They were not arrested because of any other things. They alleged that the Fulani destroyed their crops but they did not report it to the Police, they went ahead to go to the Fulani’s camp to poison their water. They said they allegedly put poison in the water and that is why the Fulani’s petitioned the headquarters and they were arrested”.