Condolences, Empathies and Sympathies to Bunu People- a Forgotten and Neglected People
Preamble
Bunuland, a forgotten district of agrarian communities scattered in over 38 villages across a wide expanse of land that measures more than 2000 sqrKm was until recently a hub of agricultural products of many kinds. Bunu people who are pre-dominantly farmers rely majorly on their farms for survival. The neighboring communities also depends on Bunu for their food items ranging from yam, cassava, maize, beans, rice potatoes etc are gotten from communities across Bunuland. The forest reserve in Olle Bunu provides a huge supply for electric poles for Nigerian electrical markets; fire woods and charcoals are ferried out in trucks while bamboo and cashew nuts are sold in several thousands of tons. High yielding plantains, banana, kolanuts castor nuts among other things abound in excess across the length and breadth of Bunuland. More than 27 solid minerals are found across Bunu land. The Yam markets in Oke-Offin and Ayegunle-Igun Bunu always witness trucks of yams being ferried out for Nigerians buyers every five market days.
Loss Past Beautiful Experiences
Bunuland was a quiet, peaceful and calm place of abode for indigenes and settlers alike over the years. Villages served as reservoir for hospitalities and kindness as neighbors would freely seat-out and drink palm wine in the same keg while also drinking from the same calabash in turn. Bunu indigenes resident in the cities were always eager to re-unite with their families during Xmas and other traditional festive events as such moments provided all the opportunity to savour the sweet taste of communism and brotherhood that all of us were borne into. Exchange of gifts items as well as hosting of social events were normal lifestyle that define the existence of Bunu people especially during Xmas. Hitherto, Social cultural organisations like Bunu Interest Group, Bunu Students Union, Bunu Emancipation Frontiers etc have various activities slated for end of the year for the benefit of Bunu people. All of these have given way as the villages are now desolate as every one is fleeing to a safe haven.
Descent into Chaos
All these are now old memories! They now almost belong to the past. The sweet and beautiful experience of peace, harmony and tranquility of Bunu people, though amidst of criminal government neglects and abandonment has faded into historical oblivion. Farmers can no longer farm, homes have become desolate, indigenes are fleeing their native land for fear of constant attacks against them in the hand of armed criminals. Farm products are wasting away. Indigenes that live in the cities cannot visit their native homes for fear of being kidnapped. Blood letting is fast taking over our land as bandits kill at will. Our wives and female children are being repeatedly raped while many die in captivities. Millions are been barrowed by relatives of the abducted ones to secure the release of their loved ones, yet many are being carried to the kidnappers’ den every day.
The current reality didn’t just start overnight. It is a product of years of neglect. A reflection of years of unheard cries of Bunu people. It started as a mere conflict between farmers and herders.
Consistent Assaults
There has been a long year of consistent attacks on Bunu farmers by herders who criminally grazed into their farms and always attacked the farmers for daring to protest against destruction of their farms. To say the least, Bunu has been overrun for a long time, but the current experience has just reached it crescendo.
As it were, more than 5 communities have been attacked with score of death recorded. An illustrious son and former National President of Bunu Development Association, Major Ajayi was murdered in the kidnappers’ den in the year. Some people fell to the gun of kidnappers in Ayetoro Kiri in 2025. A life was lost in Taki and Illah while more than several lives have been wasted by these agents of darkness in Olle.
My Condolences, Empathies and Sympathies to Bunu People
It is on this note I sadly render my condolences, sympathy and empathy to the people of Bunu land especially, Olle, Odo-Ape, Ape, Igori, Ayetoro Kiri, Taki among others for the incessant attacks and killings that have taken place in those communities by bandits. I call on all sundry to rise to the salvation of Bunu people. Enough, please is actually enough. I call on all to please RISE.
*Criminal Neglect*
Before I drop my pen, I wish to remind all that only 5 out of the 38 communities in Bunuland has access to electricity. Only communities along Kabba-Lokoja road have motorable road network,( which in actual sense is less than 10% of the communities in Bunuland. Pathetically, many communities across Bunuland still struggle with cattle for drinking water , while there is no single police post in the whole of Bunuland. Please be reminded too that only 8 secondary schools services the 38 villages while most of these schools are without teachers, yet ……. I hope and wish something is urgently done if not only God knows who is next.
*Concluding Notes*
On a final note, I specifically emphatise with very many people who are currently languishing in the cold hands of the kidnappers across our forests. I sympathize with the whole lots victims that are still being held in the den of the kidnappers. I wish that respites come their ways soon. I plead with our hunters, iyes, ololus and the alagbaras to end this deafening silence, to rise and should. Why are our ancestors silent? Why are the gods not acting?
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Chief Elijah Ola Olorunsuwa
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 2ND 2026)
