Killer herdsmen strike again in Ondo

A woman has allegedly been killed by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who also destroyed a farmland at Arodoye community, in the Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. The killing of the woman, identified as Patience Salami, occurred during the Yuletide holiday.

Justice Micheal Owoyemi, one of those whose farms were destroyed, said “The herdsmen destroyed over 5,000 heads of cassava in my farm. They took the advantage of the Christmas break; they uprooted our cassava to feed their cattle.

“We have reported the herdsmen to the security agents and also to the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, who promised to intervene.

“The herdsmen are determined to send farmers out of their farms unless steps are taken by concerned authorities. What they destroyed is worth millions of naira.

“Most of these people here depend on the farms produce to cater to their families.”
Owoyemi, who is a serving judge in the Ondo State Judiciary, said the farmers had petitioned the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, security agencies and the Ministry of Agriculture to inform them of the havoc wrecked on farms in the area, but nothing had been done.

Another farmer, Victory Oweh, urged the Ondo State Government to take a cue from the Ekiti State Government in its policy against the herdsmen.

“We are just respecting the law of the land and trying not to take the law into our own hands.

“Ondo State Government should follow the steps taken by the Ekiti State Government by enacting laws to curb the activities of herdsmen. We are calling on the state government and security agencies before taking the law into our own hands.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Femi Joseph said the matter had been reported to the police.