Tension and widespread outrage have erupted across Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State following a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Executive Chairman, Comrade Williams Ameh and the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen under the umbrella of Miyeti Allah. The agreement according to a statement released on May 5, 2025, is aimed at preventing clashes between farmers and herders as the rainy season begins. However, the move has been met with fierce condemnation, especially from the people of Ofante and surrounding Ogugu districts who describe it as a betrayal of trust and a dangerous appeasement of known aggressors.
For years, communities within Olamaboro particularly Ogugu, a once-tranquil and agriculturally thriving area have suffered from the steady rise of violence attributed to armed Fulani herdsmen. Residents recount brutal attacks, destruction of farmland, kidnapping for ransom and repeated harassment which have rendered entire villages unsafe. Farmers, who are the backbone of the region’s economy now approach their fields with fear and uncertainty. School children travel under threat and families lock their homes before sundown, unsure of what the night may bring.
In light of this grim reality, many have viewed the Chairman’s MOU not as a symbol of peace but as a reckless political maneuver that legitimizes and emboldens those accused of perpetrating the very violence ravaging the local communities. Critics argue that the agreement, which was allegedly made without adequate consultation with those most affected, undermines the suffering of victims and erases their pleas for protection and justice.
The anger is not just about the agreement itself but the context in which it was made. In a region still reeling from unpunished violence, residents see the Chairman’s actions as a signal that their lives are negotiable and their suffering dismissible. Rather than taking a firm stand to root out insecurity and demand accountability, the local government appears to be settling for paper agreements that offer no concrete assurance of safety.
Furthermore, the Chairman’s public reaffirmation of the herders’ continued presence in Olamaboro has deepened fears among residents who now believe that their government is more interested in preserving the status quo than addressing their grievances. The MOU, many argue, has only widened the trust deficit between the people and their elected leaders.
The psychological and economic trauma from the hands of herdsmen is not theoretical, it is lived daily by the youth who can no longer farm safely, by women who fear abduction and by elders who feel helpless watching their homeland unravel.
If any further harm comes to our people as a result of this decision or its fallout, the responsibility will rest solely on the shoulders of the Executive Chairman.
Security, they insist, is not a privilege to be negotiated with violent actors; it is a fundamental right owed to every citizen. Leadership, they argue, must be exercised with courage, empathy and an steady commitment to justice, not political appeasement or backroom deals.
As the rains set in and farmers prepare for the planting season, the people of Olamaboro remain on edge, unsure whether this new agreement will bring peace or provoke further unrest. One thing however is clear: no MOU no matter how well-worded will substitute for real security and the restoration of trust between the people and their government.
Until that trust is rebuilt through justice, transparency and decisive action, the people of Olamaboro say they will continue to demand answers and hold their LG Chairman to account.
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