THIS week, Fulani herders did what they have always done in Ibadanland and the rest of Nigeria: they murdered a defenseless citizen. The victim, 47-year-old Chief Mutairu Oladosu, the Otun Balogun of Oluode Okelade, was in his farm in Asa Village of Ido LG, Oyo State, tending tomatoes when the beasts invaded the farm, overpowered him and his hapless daughter, and slaughtered him.

Every land in this world has challenges but not every land tolerates bloodthirsty killers like Nigeria does. I am from Ikorodu, Lagos State and have plied the Ibadan-Lagos road for years. Now, think of the number of lives that these depraved dogs of Lucifer have terminated on that road. Think about the number of innocent people they have slaughtered on the Ife-Ibadan road. Sometime ago, a member of the Board of a national newspaper who wanted to visit home in Ilesha after so many years had to use armed security. Whenever I think of the atrocities that these individuals have perpetrated in Plateau State, I often wonder how many of the people I knew in Dokan Kasuwa, Qua’an Pan while I was a corper are actually still alive. At that time, I shuddered when I was told that the killers were referring to the king of Shendam as the “King of Infidels.” Just how do you come to a land and call its people and their king infidels? And what shall we call you, a killer and troubler of every land under the sun? These killers are that bold because no one has tamed them.

Just how do you tie down a dog, tie down a leopard, then hand over the leopard’s tail to the dog? Oro yi o ni le wo (This matter can’t be peacefully resolved). How can the blood of innocent people be shed so cavalierly in a land that has both king and chief? How? Before his demise, Professor Wale Are Olaitan, then chairman of the Editorial Board of the Nigerian Tribune, expressed hope that he would one day own a farm in Ijebuland. Now, it just occurred to me, seeing the atrocity that happened in Ido this week, that if he or any other person had set up a farm, they could actually have been attacked on it. Think about it: an ex-VC and scholar working on his farm and enjoying his old age, attacked by wild, analphabetic dogs from a cursed heritage! If people like Chief Mutairu Oladosu can’t even tend their tomatoes in peace, then what exactly is the benefit of being a Nigerian? How can people be cut down in a land passed down to them through generations of blood line, ever before anything called Nigeria? Before writing this piece, I watched a video of cattle farming abroad and shuddered at the depravity that takes place in Nigeria. I am completely disgusted with the atrocities going on.

Because the authorities don’t care about human life, a video has surfaced on X showing bandits in the North proudly displaying bundles of cash they had looted from kidnapping victims. John Arum, a University of Jos student abducted with six other passengers while travelling from Jos to Kaduna State, appeared in a new video this week pleading for help. When the dogs holding him captive barked at him to “start” his plea, he said: “Please help, family and relatives help. I have been kidnapped and I’m in a very critical condition here. I don’t want to die. Please, help. Please, look for money by all means to secure my release.” In newly released footage, one of the kidnappers is heard saying: “When we ask for ransom and you can’t provide it, we will kill you. You know we are in Zamfara right? Tell your family we kidnapped you in Kaduna and took you to Zamfara forest.” Can you imagine anyone trying this atrocity in the United States or Saudi Arabia? Our leaders gloat that Donald Trump is bad, but in protecting citizens he is better than all of them put together.

The killers just abducted youngsters on the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue. The youngsters were candidates on their way to the 2026 UTME halls. Think about it: prospective varsity students have been abducted in Benue while a varsity student was abducted in Plateau. In August 2023, eight graduates travelling from Uyo and heading to an NYSC camp in Sokoto were captured by the criminals, and were only rescued a year later. The message is clear: whether you are an intending varsity student, a varsity student or a graduate on your way to national service, your life isn’t safe. Illiterates who hardly brush their teeth are feasting on the bodies of well groomed graduates! Like the Juju musician King Sunny Ade said, “Eedi re o, ogun esu ni!” (This is an abomination, a war waged by the devil!)

I refuse to be a Fulani slave. If the government can’t protect our lives, let them give us the opportunity to protect ourselves. Let the markets, schools and businesses be shut down completely and let the young men and women in every community defend themselves using their traditional means. It cannot be against the law to defend yourselves against the onslaught of terrorists. As an aside, with respect to the terrorist attacks in the North Central and other areas, I have heard certain idiotic Biblical interpretations, namely that Christian communities are not supposed to defend themselves when faced with physical danger. Whoever says this must be mad, because in the Bible even God Almighty is presented as The Lord of Hosts, a term that points to worship and war. The churches in the North Central and other places must stop placing people in handcuffs through false theology. At a time the Jews were under attack, Nehemiah 4:17 records: “They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.” If a terrorist attacks your community, you have the spiritual and legal right to defend yourself.  This is not the time to speak English: the killers know only the language of war. The foolish professors saying “you can’t shut down society” may be the next victim.

Let every geopolitical zone form its own brand of Amotekun. Let them be given real arms and let them slaughter these invaders. Like they say in Yorubaland, let us spend all of it, like money.

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Re: Mercy for terrorists, death for their victims

The killings are too much as you rightly said in your piece. None of our governors can release their children to join Nigerian Army. Other people’s children can be sent on errands at any point in time.

Oladimeji Michael, Ibadan.