In 2021
Daud Olatunji, who was in the Republic of Benin, captures the suffering of villagers who fled their homes in Yewaland, Ogun State, to the neighbouring country following persistent attacks by killer herders
I forgot that I was pregnant when I ran from danger. I ran from Asa village in Ogun State at night when Fulani herdsmen invaded our village and started killing people. The following day, I was rushed from Eegelu where I slept to this hospital (Sante De Sante) in the Republic of Benin and was later delivered of a baby there by the nurses on duty,” Olufunke Kangbe said to Saturday PUNCH in the hospital located at Igana in the West African country.
The 25-year-old mother was cuddling her baby when our correspondent visited her at the public hospital.
Just recovering from childbirth, she managed to add briefly, “I was taken to the hospital when I felt labour pain. I was first taken to Agbele in the country when herdsmen invaded villages in Yewaland. There were many that ran away. We could not sleep in our homes and had to move to Eegelu. They burnt our house. We had no home again when we fled to the country.’’
residents fled from their homes to the Republic of Benin when they could no longer endure the incessant attacks by criminal herders.
The suffering of helpless villagers
Sixty-one-year-old Madelene Akindele who now seeks refuge in Eegelu refugee camp in the country said she trekked from Agbon to Eegelu with some others when they could no longer bear the attacks by killer herders.
Akindele said, “We trekked from Agbon to Eegelu through bush paths. Some took motorcycles but many of us went on foot and it took us two days while some spent four days. The people received us warmly. Some of us are from Agbon and there are also some from Asa, Kodera, Ibeku Moro and Iselu. I sold bean cakes and roasted corn in Asa. Herdsmen killed four people and burnt houses in the area. We, therefore, felt that as the attacks continued, it was better for us to seek protection somewhere else
.
“I have not started working or doing anything in this country. I only depend on people. I don’t know when I will return home but once there is peace, I will consider it. The government should ensure peace in the villages. We don’t want to go home and rush back to this place because of insecurity. My husband was in Agbon. He was taken to Oja-Odan. My children are in Agbon and we talk often. We arrived in the Republic of Benin together but they had returned home.”
Also, two other women, Funmilola Olabisi and Ewunmi Jeremiah, who left Asa village for Benin Republic, were camped in Igana. They told Saturday PUNCH that they escaped death in their villages by a whisker and ran to the neighbouring country at night.
Olufunmilayo stated, “They shot indiscriminately in the communities and torched houses. They killed people and we had to run away. We walked to this country (Republic of Benin). We are hungry here but afraid of death back home. We want to return home but the Ogun State government should make our villages peaceful.
The residents fled from their homes to the Republic of Benin when they could no longer endure the incessant attacks by criminal herders.
The suffering of helpless villagers
Sixty-one-year-old Madelene Akindele who now seeks refuge in Eegelu refugee camp in the country said she trekked from Agbon to Eegelu with some others when they could no longer bear the attacks by killer herders.
Akindele said, “We trekked from Agbon to Eegelu through bush paths. Some took motorcycles but many of us went on foot and it took us two days while some spent four days. The people received us warmly. Some of us are from Agbon and there are also some from Asa, Kodera, Ibeku Moro and Iselu. I sold bean cakes and roasted corn in Asa. Herdsmen killed four people and burnt houses in the area. We, therefore, felt that as the attacks continued, it was better for us to seek protection somewhere else.
“I have not started working or doing anything in this country. I only depend on people. I don’t know when I will return home but once there is peace, I will consider it. The government should ensure peace in the villages. We don’t want to go home and rush back to this place because of insecurity. My husband was in Agbon. He was taken to Oja-Odan. My children are in Agbon and we talk often. We arrived in the Republic of Benin together but they had returned home.”
Also, two other women, Funmilola Olabisi and Ewunmi Jeremiah, who left Asa village for Benin Republic, were camped in Igana. They told Saturday PUNCH that they escaped death in their villages by a whisker and ran to the neighbouring country at night.
Olufunmilayo stated, “They shot indiscriminately in the communities and torched houses. They killed people and we had to run away. We walked to this country (Republic of Benin). We are hungry here but afraid of death back home. We want to return home but the Ogun State government should make our villages peaceful.’’
said it would be easy for them to return home if the Ogun state and the federal governments did everything within their power to ensure adequate security in Yewaland. She stated, “We are in Igana in the Republic of Benin. I was a farmer back home. We had started planting for the new season when the attacks started. We are fed up and want to return home but we need security in our villages. It wasn’t easy getting to the country because we trekked and some took motorcycles.’’
Children’s passionate pleas
Children were also in the Igana refugee camp where some of the Ogun villagers were temporarily staying in the West African country. One of them is 12-year-old Monday Olabisi.
Monday said, “I am from Asa. I was in primary four at a private school there when the attacks started. We want the government to do everything possible to ensure we return home and continue schooling. We were 30 in our group that trekked from Nigeria to the Republic of Benin at night. We took bush paths. When we went to the country, we looked for a place to stay and met some people there who also came from villages in Yewaland.”
Also, six-year-old brother of Monday, Joseph Olabisi, said he attended the same school with him. In his young voice, he begged the government to find a solution to the problems in the villages. He said, “I want to return to school.’’
To a seven-year-old girl, Tope Abiose, her desire was also to return home to continue her studies.
The men and young males were said to have gone out to look for work to do to cater to the needs of their families .
Check out this video, “ogun citizen flee to benin republic” https://share.google/mAv9aZTmdRmhBXh6Z
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