Oyo Community Alleges Marginalisation,

By Marlikberry,

The Ibarape Development Forum has expressed displeasure over what it termed as gross neglect of the region by the Oyo State Government especially in the provision of security and infrastructural development.

The group in a statement jointly signed by the President of the Forum, Etomitade Oduola and the Secretary, Akinbode Badiu, said the recent killings, maiming, kidnappings and invasions within the area and lukewarm disposition of the state government to the security of the region have given rise to self-help as the solution.

The group called on the state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde to conduct on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Ibarapa with a view to finding lasting solution to the crises, adding that the present strategies within the security architecture need to be revisited and repositioned.

The statement posited that the ongoing face-off between Fulani in the region and their host has once again underscored the urgent need to have a sincere discourse that would lead to truth and reconciliation.

The group remarked that the relationship between Ibarapa people and the Fulani sojourners has broken down to the level of distrust in which a call for the Fulani’s to quit is being made.