The Ondo State Police Command on Monday evening said only one person lost his life when some suspected criminals attacked some communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Earlier, the residents of the Power Line, Ago Oyinbo and Ala Reserves Communities in the LGA had alleged that some herdsmen invaded their communities on Friday and Saturday, destroying their farms and injuring no fewer than eight farmers.
The Public Relations Officer for the state police command, Mrs Funmi Odunlami, in a statement said a report of the attack was made at the police station and that one 50-year-old Olaoluwa Olorunfemi was macheted to death by the invaders.
However, she did not confirm whether the hoodlums were herdsmen.
She said, “On 22/04/2023, at about 1720hrs, a case of murder was reported at Ala Police station that while people were working at a farm at Ifeloduro Camp Forest Reserve via Ala, some men numbering about four came to the camp and collected their phones and also matcheted, one Mr Olaoluwa Toyinbo Olorunfemi ‘m’ aged 50yrs of Ifeloduro hut Oguniyi Camp Igbatoro Road via Ala, all over his body and he gave up the ghost on the spot.
“The police in the company of the deceased family visited the scene of the crime and the corpse was evacuated.”
FARMERS CRY FOR HELP
Following recent attacks, Farmers in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo state, have challenged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and security agencies in the state to urgently intervene over the fresh incessant attacks on them by suspected herdsmen.
Samuel Olowolafe, a spokesman for the aggrieved farmers, who spoke with journalists on Monday in Akure, said the herdsmen have continued to wreak havoc on the people of the community without challenge.
According to him, they have lost their loved ones including properties worthy of millions of naira to the brutal attacks at the hands of the invaders.
“What really happened to us at the weekend was that these Fulani herdsmen wanted to takeover our farm land, they came with their guns and others dangerous weapons to attacked us at the midnight and carted away our properties, like phones, foodstuffs among others.
“They do perpetuated their devil act in the midnight. We are calling on the state government and the security agencies again to please come to our aid, our lives are on danger, government should please provide adequate security for us at Powerline and Ago-Oyinbo at Ala Forest Reserve,” Olowolafe said.
Olowolafe explained that the community, which is dominated by farmers, has come under heavy attack on several occasions.
He specifically revealed how the herdsmen attacked a local farmer on his farmland a few days ago in the community.
“They (herdsmen) came at the weekend again and attacked us, shooting on the air sporadically. Up till today, the attacks continue, they always carry out the attacks at night and in the early morning, carting away our foods, destroying our farm products, and even machete people to the extent that they would land in the hospital,” he added.
According to him, the marauders are already planning to take over the community by driving residents away from their homes saying “we need government attention seriously.”
