Voodoo and Politics
In court, I do not know if there are cases of voodoo that hold water or are admissible, but in Nigeria, such cases are very real and do occur. Recently, a certain happenstance rained terror in the hearts of many and is currently being intertwined with the country’s political system and spoken of as if a norm.
A human rights activist of Yoruba ethnicity named Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo but popularly known as Sunday Igboho (because he hails from the Igboho clan of Oyo State) is at the forefront of these activities.
For as long as I can remember, several articles, news, pictures, and videos have been circulated unveiling the untold brutality that a certain sect of people called the Fulani Herdsmen in Nigeria have meted out on those living in or around any place or space they choose to invade.
Such is the case of the Yoruba people of Ogun state whose indigenes have been killed, maimed, had their women raped, farms destroyed, properties plundered and people kidnapped for huge ransoms by the Fulani Herdsmen. Severally, they have cried out to the government securities for help but there has been nothing done to stop further brutality or halt its occurrence.
Sunday Igboho (with the backing of voodoo, according to witnesses and evidence) then decided to take laws into his hands since no government directive was given to curb the violence. He then gave the Herdmens a quit notice to leave the Yoruba lands alone and return to their own lands since they could not live in peace.
When the date given for the quit notice expired, he and his supporters went into the Fulani settlement in Ogun State and had a confrontation with them accompanied by the Police Area Commander in that division. This confrontation led to a violent outburst that resulted in 2 people losing their lives. In an aftermath of events, the mob vandalized and burned down some of the properties belonging to the Seriki (chief) of the Fulanis, this also led to an act of similar revenge taken out on Sunday Igbohos house.
A cite taken out of the webpage of the Guardian newspaper said this: Speaking with journalists… He said: “We observe there is an injustice from the herdsmen because they are close to the Federal Government. Any Fulani herdsman who engages in kidnapping should be flushed out.”
A British Nigerian political activist known as Nnamdi Kanu; who has been at the forefront fighting for the independence of the Igbo ethnic people made a post on the 23rd of January saying:
“Before your very eyes, Nigeria is turning to a pathetic APARTHEID State, mercilessly implementing the supremacy of one tribe over all others. And you do nothing. Incredible!”
Amidst all these, there has not been any solid order made for or against the banditry and incessant killings in the areas the Herdsmen have ravaged.
In an interview carried out by the Punch Newspaper, Sunday Igboho made this statement: “We are Yoruba people in our own right, we can fight for freedom. Our fathers and brothers were killed by herders while our people die in silence. Our mothers and sisters are raped, farmlands are vandalized and crops are eaten up by their cattle. They kidnap and take big ransom. Just as the case in Igangan, our people in Ogun could not bear it any longer, so they called for help. That was what happened.”
When asked if he had discussed with the governors on how to handle the issue of the herdsmen menace, he had this to say:
“No, but obviously if they call me for a meeting to discuss the burning issue of security to end the impunity by the killer herders, I shall gladly oblige. I am ready for any genuine approach to stopping the herders’ madness against our parents, brothers, and sisters in Yorubaland. Why should our people, harmless for that matter, be going through all the horrible experiences without getting justice? And everybody folds their arms, looking on as if nothing is wrong.”
What seems to be utterly fascinating is the authority and audacity with which Sunday uses to go about his fight for justice even at the expense of his life, making bold declarations and authoritative statements such as an excerpt taken from www.idomavoice.com which says: ‘In an interview with PUNCH on Sunday, Igboho said no human being can kill him and he will not be distracted. The Yoruba warlord was quoted as saying, “I am not afraid of anything or anyone but God. God is the owner and controller of every soul. It is only God who can kill me. No human being can kill me, so I cannot be afraid of any mortal.’
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