Yoruba residents in Baruten Local Government Area, Kwara State, urged the Federal Government to intervene in the lingering crisis between them and the traditional rulers, in Baruten local government, Kwara State.
The Yorubas, under the umbrella body of ‘Igbimo Agba Yoruba in Ile Ibariba’ made this known on Sunday, in Ibadan, Oyo state while addressing newsmen on their plight in the hands of the traditional rulers in Baruten area.
According to the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Rabiu Akanji and Johnson Okegbenro, traditional rulers in the four major communities in Baruten local government area of Kwara state have banned Yorubas from engaging in any trading activities.
“The major communities are Gure, Okuta, Ilesha Ibariba and Yasikira, all the traditional rulers of these communities and other villages under them have ordered the Ibarubas to confiscate goods from Yoruba traders.
“In addition, all Yoruba farmers have been banned from farming on their (Ibarubas) lands, Yorubas in Baruten are being physically challenged in their legitimate business now.
“We are aware that the next stage of their action is to expel all Yorubas from all communities in Baruten local government area.
“We see this as flagrant contravention of fundamental rights of Yorubas who are being discriminated against by the traditional rulers in Ibaruba land.
“We fear that these traditional rulers might soon call for genocide of Yorubas
in their domain if not checked on time,” the Secretary said.
Speaking on the cause of the crisis, the chairman said it was one Nofiu, a Yoruba man that had issue with some Ibarubas and that the said Nofiu had been expelled from Baruten local government.
He said none of the Yorubas in the area supported Nofiu action nor kicked against his expulsion from the area, thus there wasn’t any justification for punishing innocent and law abiding Yoruba people because of Nofiu action.
On efforts made so far to settle the crisis, Akanji said the group had petitioned the Office of Kwara State Governor, Inspector-General of Police and Office of the Department of State Security Service.
The group begged President Bola Tinubu, Gov. Abdurahman AbdulRasaq and heads of the nation’s security agencies to intervene on the matter.