,,,Wants Arrest, Prosecution of Culprits Who Engage in Criminal Trespass

An Ibadan based Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Mr Femi Aborisade has taken President Muhammadu Buhari and the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde to court over the violations of his rights and that of residents and workers of the troubled Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

Filed on Wednesday February 10^th, 2021 at the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, by his leading counsel, Mr Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation, the Attorney General of Oyo State and the State’s Commissioner of Police are also mentioned as respondents in the suit..  .

The applicant is seeking amongst others:

• A DECLARATION that every person resident or working in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State is entitled to the fundamental right to life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as amended and article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
• A DECLARATION that every person resident or working in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State  is entitled to the fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as amended and article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
• A DECLARATION that the Respondents are under a legal obligation to protect the life and property of every person in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State forthwith.
• AN ORDER directing the Respondents to arrest, investigate and prosecute suspected armed herders, suspected armed robbers and suspected kidnappers who commit criminal trespass, rape, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminal offences in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East snd Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
• AN ORDER directing the Respondents to adopt adequate measures to ensure the  protection of  the life and property of every person in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State  forthwith.
• AN ORDER directing the Respondents to establish Conflict Resolution Committees among the various communities in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State  forthwith.

The reliefs being sought by the applicant are on the following grounds:

• Every person resident and/or working in Nigeria is entitled to the fundamental right to life guaranteed by section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as amended and article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
• Every person resident and/or working in Nigeria is entitled to the fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as amended and article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
• The Respondents are under a legal obligation to protect the life and property of every person living and/or working in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East & Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
• The Respondents are under a legal obligation to arrest, investigate and prosecute suspected armed herders, suspected armed robbers and suspected kidnappers who commit criminal trespass, rape, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminal offences in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East & Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
• The Respondents have failed to guarantee the fundamental rights of the people living and/or working in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East & Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State to life and freedom of movement.
• The Respondents have failed to secure the lives and properties of people living in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Including Igangan; Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East & Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

Ibarapa has been lately engulfed in herders/farmers crises, with the residents and workers fingering the armed Fulani herders who are said to have occupied their forests, for criminal acts of kidnapping, armed robbery, killings, invasion of farmlands and raping of women which has disrupted the socio-economic life of the area.

Tired of the antics of security agencies, whom they accuse of siding with the Fulani, the people resorted to self defense while eliciting the support of a big wig of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Mr Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho to lead them to battle.