By Peter Dada
Farmers in some communities in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have called on state government and security agencies in the state to come to their aid following incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen.
The farmers alleged that the herdsmen again invaded the Power Line, Ago Oyinbo and Ala Reserves communities on Friday and Saturday, destroying their farms and injuring no fewer than eight farmers.
The attack was said to be the second this year.
Speaking on the development on Monday in Akure, the state capital, one of the farmers, Mr Samuel Olowolafe, said the herdsmen have continued to wreak havoc on the people of the community without any resistance.
Olowolafe noted that the farmers had lost property worth millions of naira to the herdsmen’s attacks.
He said, “What happened to us at the weekend was that these herdsmen wanted to take over our farmlands. They came with their guns and others weapons to attack us at the midnight and cart away our property like phones and foodstuffs among others.
“They perpetuated their evil act at the midnight. We are calling on the state government and the security agencies again to please come to our aid, our lives are in danger.
“Government should please provide adequate security for us at Powerline and Ago-Oyinbo at Ala Forest Reserve.”
He added that herdsmen were already planning to take over the community by driving residents away from their homes saying, “We need the government’s attention seriously.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, could not confirm the incident as of the time of filing this report as she said she was yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area.
Source: The Punch
