Mr. Owolabi Abd-Afeez Mufbadmos, Oyo born community advocate has called for the expulsion of Fulani herders from farmlands and forests in Saki West with immediate effect, noting that such step has become necessary following years of insecurity, killings, and harassment faced by residents, allegedly linked to some Fulani groups occupying the area.
Mr. Owolabi, who hails from Saki in Oyo State, Nigeria, described the struggles of his people as a lifelong burden. “I grew up seeing how our people lived in fear and how innocent lives were wasted without justice. Families have been displaced, farmlands destroyed, and livelihoods ruined. We cannot continue like this”, he said.
For years, Abd-Afeez has been a vocal mobilization officer for the Yoruba Nation movement in Saki West, playing a frontline role in organizing community defense and advocacy. His involvement, however, has not been without personal cost. Owolabi recounted how threats and targeted persecution forced him to flee Nigeria, seeking safety abroad.
Despite his displacement, his voice remains a rallying point for his people. He maintains that his mission is to defend the rights of his community to live in peace, cultivate their land, and protect their heritage. “My priority remains the protection of lives and properties of my people,” he emphasized. “We cannot allow any group to destabilize our peace any longer.”
Mr. Owolabi also used the opportunity to appeal to both Nigerian authorities and the international community to acknowledge the plight of indigenous communities like his. He urged that concrete measures be put in place to restore security and guarantee the safety of law-abiding citizens in the region.
