Oyo Monarch Aligns with Afenifere Over Farmer Abductions, Farm Abandonment

The Elerepamo of Pamo, Oba Ayobami Ogunmakinde, located in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has thrown his weight behind the alarm raised by Afenifere, the prominent pan-Yoruba socio-political group. This concern revolves around the relentless attacks and kidnappings targeting agricultural workers across the South-West region.

Oba Ogunmakinde communicated his stance during a conversation with PUNCH Online in Ibadan, the state capital, on Sunday. He strongly advocated for proactive measures to be put in place to curb these attacks, particularly in the remote communities within Oyo State. PUNCH Online previously reported that Afenifere, through a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan on Friday, expressed deep worries over assaults on farmlands and the abduction of residents in various parts of Yorubaland and other areas of Nigeria.

The organisation disclosed that during its recent visits to the Oke-Ogun area and the northern parts of both Oyo and Ondo states, residents lamented that they had deserted their farms for three primary reasons. Afenifere detailed these reasons, stating: “First, one is fear of being kidn*pped; second is the serious fall in prices that farmers could sell their proceeds as middlemen/middle-women (known as ‘Onibaranda’) are standing between them and direct purchasers, while the third reason is grazing on farmlands by unscrupulous herders that have not stopped despite several lamentations, warnings and steps taken.”

Further elaborating, Oba Ogunmakinde pointed out that the recent abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers has significantly escalated fears within the council area, the South-West, and the entire nation. He remarked, “As far as security is concerned, I would align with the organisation. The fear is too much. Our farmers cannot go to their farms again. Our security personnel are trying, but we still want them to do more. Look at what happened in Oriire recently. I had appealed before; I want to appeal again to the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police to upgrade the only existing Police Post in Pamo to a full-fledged Divisional Police Headquarters.”

He continued, pleading, “We are not asking for too much. We are begging them to help us upgrade the Police Post to a full-fledged Divisional Police Headquarters. I believe with the establishment of two Military Bases and another Divisional Police Office in Ogbomoso, the issue of kidn*pping, banditry and others will reduce drastically.”

PUNCH Online reminded readers of the May 15, 2025, abduction of over 40 pupils and their teachers during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle. These victims eventually regained their freedom on July 10, 2026, after 56 days in captivity.