The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has issued a stern call on Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, to immediately apprehend and prosecute the herders responsible for the recent violent attack on Chief Oniyide Olubayo, the Baale of Balogun Village in Yewa North Local Government Area.

A Baale is usually appointed by an Oba (king) to oversee a village, settlement, or smaller community within a kingdom.

According to the group, Olubayo was reportedly attacked on Tuesday by herders while returning from Ilaro.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the village head had stopped by the roadside upon seeing a heated dispute between a group of farmers and herders.

In a bid to mediate and calm the rising tension, one of the herders allegedly launched an attack, slashing Olubayo’s elbow with a cutlass before fleeing the scene.

In a statement released on Friday and jointly signed by the Convener, Olusola Badero, and the Home Director, Princess Balogun, the Yoruba Union condemned what it described as the persistent failure of both the state government and security agencies to tackle the growing menace of herders’ violence across the state.

“For far too long, Fulani herders have been terrorising our people. They invade farmlands, destroy crops, assault our farmers, and when challenged, they resort to brutal attacks — maiming, killing, and sometimes raping our women. Yet, no one has been held accountable,” the statement read.

The union lamented that despite several reports of such attacks in remote communities across Yewa, Imeko, and other parts of the state, the state government had shown what it called “a disturbing level of indifference.”

It accused Governor Abiodun and the police commissioner of maintaining “complicit silence” while Yoruba ancestral lands continued to come under threat.

“Why should people migrating from other regions invade our homeland, destroy our farms, and harm our people, while the governor and police authorities remain silent?” the group queried.

“If the governor and the police commissioner are not complicit through their inaction, they should immediately arrest those who attacked Chief Oniyide and bring them to justice.”

The Yoruba Union emphasised that the Yoruba people, known for their civility and respect for law and order, should not be mistaken for cowards. It said the community’s patience was wearing thin and warned that continued attacks could force locals to resort to self-help measures.

“Our people deserve dignity and respect. We are Omoluabi — law-abiding citizens — but we will not continue to fold our arms while invaders destroy our lands and livelihoods. The government must act now, or the people will take measures to defend themselves,” they said.

The group urged the state government to adopt modern ranching policies, aiming to curb open grazing and prevent future conflicts between farmers and herders.

It noted that cattle rearing is a private business and should not come at the expense of other citizens’ safety or livelihood.

“Ogun State is not a banana republic. It is a Yoruba-speaking state with its heritage and traditions. If herders must rear cows, they should build ranches and operate within the law,” the statement stressed.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá warns that if Governor Abiodun continues to show indifference to the repeated attacks on innocent citizens, he should resign from office and allow someone capable of defending the lives and properties of Ogun residents to take charge.

“For years, our people have suffered attacks from herders without justice. If the governor cannot protect his people, he should step aside. The safety and dignity of the Yoruba people are non-negotiable," it said.

The union also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and civil society groups in Ogun and across the Southwest to unite in demanding concrete action against what it termed “a sustained threat.