Despite the relative peace people of Shaare in Ifelodun Local government of Kwara state now enjoy with the presence of military force in the town, the resident still live in fear, pains and anguish as many have lost their beloved ones and properties to some Nupe terrorist of Tsaraji community who are their neighbour as they launched attack on them recently. The President of Shaare Patriotic Movement, Professor Abdul-Fatah Jimoh did speak his mind on what he perceived as a terrorist attack on Shaare and her people. Excerpt:

Could you give us an insight to how the whole thing started?

On 24th October, 2015, the Headmaster of Community LGEA Primary School, Shaare informed the Management of the School, the members of Shaare Descendants Union (SDU) and Shaare Traditional Council (STC) on the need to clear the school premises of bush constituting security threat to pupils and teachers. Approval was given to start the clearing of the said bush by volunteers from the community.

On 25th October, 2015, the volunteers started clearing the bush and in the process, some Nupe youths from Tsaragi - a neighbouring community – appeared and tried to stop the clearing work claiming the area belongs to them. The workers and the Headmaster of the school were chased by the Tsaragi youths who armed themselves with different dangerous weapons like sticks, stones, cutlasses, swords and guns. This was an act of civil disobedience and a clear breach of law and order. The Headmaster rushed to Olupako of Shaare palace to report the ordeal. This prompted the STC to direct the Headmaster to notify the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Shaare Division in writing.

On 26th October, 2015, the Headmaster sent a formal report to the DPO, Shaare Division. He complained about the security threat the bush pose to the staff and in particular the pupils of the school. He also emphasized possible use of the bush and shrub for nefarious activities such as kidnapping by miscreants and kidnappers.

Was there any move by government on the complaint lodged?

They did their best. Upon receipt of the complaint letter and its subsequent treatment, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, DPOs of Shaare and Tsaragi Divisions jointly visited the site and took a survey. It was concluded that the area being cleared falls within the land of the Community LGEA Primary School, Shaare which was established in 1927. The security personnel therefore resolved that the workers can continue the clearing without further interference or confrontation by the miscreants. However, the clearing work could not be completed on the 26th October, 2015 and was thus postponed.

The mayhem that ensued, how did it happen?

On Saturday, 19th December, 2015, the workers resumed the clearing work for its completion. At about 10.00 am, a group of Tsaragi youths led by one Ndanna, a serving Councilor and Youth leader and one Alhaji Ahmed, APC Tsaragi youth Leader suddenly appeared and started throwing stones at the workers and hitting them with sticks. Some of the workers escaped to the palace and reported the incident. The Divisional Police Station was also alerted but there was no quick response. Members of STC went to the site in order to make peace and rescue some of the workers who were held hostage by the Tsaragi assailants.

On getting to the site, the Tsaragi miscreants wielding guns and other dangerous weapons had injured the workers.

When all this was going on, was there any intervention from security operatives?

At about 1.30 pm of the same day, some Mobile Police (MOPOL) arrived Shaare and advised the Shaare youths and elders to vacate the area and go back home. As they were retreating back to Shaare, the Tsaragi youths were advancing towards Shaare throwing sticks and stones. The reason why the security personnel could not prevail on the Tsaragi youths leave much to be desired.

At this juncture, Tsaragi people led by one Mohammed Buhari (aka Siroko) on the instruction of their Emir, Etsu Tsaragi started carrying out a major onslaught against Shaare people and callous invasion of the community. They terrorized the people without restrictions. They started shooting sporadically at long ranges and in the process, hit a fifteen years old boy with bullets in the head. The boy was rushed to University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin and has since been referred to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife for surgery.

At about 5.30 pm, another set of combined MOPOL and SARS were deployed to the scene to maintain law and order. The groups from the two communities were asked to retreat and allow peace to reign. While Shaare group obliged and went to their various houses, the terrorist group from Tsaragi refused.

Minutes later, the terrorist group started vandalizing properties in Shaare. A block of 2-classrooms at UMCA Junior Secondary School, Shaare was totally destroyed. The sporadic shootings continued into the night and none of the law enforcement officers earlier deployed was able to curtail the breakdown of law. The Shaare people were forced to standby in defense of their lives and properties that were being threatened all through the night.

The Shaare people maintained the defense until about 4.30 am of Sunday, 20th December 2015 when some heavy and highly coordinated gun shots started again from the Tsaragi terrorists. At about 10.00 am, Sunday morning, another team of MOPOL arrived and ordered everybody to retreat. Shaare people again obliged and withdrew but the Tsaragi terrorists refused the order. The terrorists resumed their acts of terror and started vandalizing, looting and burning properties as well as shooting people. A youth from Shaare was killed and many others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Was there any back up or military intervention while all this was going on?

The Tsaragi terrorists were well determined and prepared for the onslaught. Three members of the MOPOL team were also shot. The more Shaare people tried to run for their lives, the more the Tsaragi terrorists continued to shoot, loot and burn properties. This left many domestic animals, houses, shops, cars, motorcycles, Mosques, Churches, banks and telecommunication mast vandalized and burnt down. This is nothing but an act of terrorism on lives and properties of Shaare Community. This sad development continued unabated until about 3.45 pm, when a team of Military Personnel arrived. They were able to stop and forced the Tsaragi terrorists.

Did the community have any premonition of this attack or were their previous attacks on the town before this time?

It is worthy of note that since ascension of the throne of his forefathers, the Etsu Tsaragi, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Kpotuawa, has coordinated and sponsored four different attacks on Shaare community in 2000 (twice), 2008 and 2015. This last invasion of Shaare by the Tsaragi terrorists as sponsored by the Etsu Tsaragi can best be described as another act of terrorism in its entirety.

The invasion is hereby totally condemned. The sponsor - Abdullahi Aliyu (Etsu Tsaragi), coordinator – Mohammed Buhari (Siroko) and other culprits must be investigated and punished accordingly as nobody must be seen to be above the law. The act must not be swept under the carpet or taken with a pinch of salt. Recall that other acts of terrorism of national dimensions equally started this way. Furthermore, allegations of complacency and inefficiency on the part of the police must also be probed.


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