Tension escalated in Ondo State on Tuesday as suspected herdsmen killed four farmers in the Akure North Local Government Area, triggering a protest by angry youths and farmers who were demanding justice for the victims.
The violent deaths occurred in the 13/13 farm settlement in the Ajagbusi area of Ala Elefosan while the victims were on their way to the farm early in the morning. The protestors, who were visibly upset over the rising insecurity in the state, took the corpses of the slain farmers to Akure, the state capital. Once there, they barricaded the main entrance to the state secretariat at Alagbaka, causing a massive traffic jam that left motorists and commuters stranded for hours.
The situation led to chaos, with the roundabout leading to the Governor’s Office and Federal Secretariat completely blocked. The protesters, mostly youths and farmers, used the opportunity to voice their frustration over the growing insecurity in the region, demanding that the state government take immediate action to stop the killings.
The attack in the Akure North area is not an isolated incident. Only weeks earlier, five farmers were also killed in a similar manner in the Aba Oyinbo area of the same local government. The persistence of these attacks has left residents in constant fear, as they are now worried about the safety of their farms, their livelihood, and their lives.
According to reports, the four farmers who lost their lives on Tuesday were attacked by the assailants in the early hours of the morning while making their way to work on their farms. The incident, which has left the local community in shock, is the latest in a series of deadly attacks on farmers in Ondo State by suspected herdsmen.
The violence in Ondo State has escalated in recent months, with farmers increasingly becoming targets of herdsmen, who are accused of attacking communities in search of grazing routes for their cattle. The repeated nature of these killings has created an atmosphere of fear among residents, especially those living in farming communities.
Chief Taiwo Samuel, the traditional ruler of the Adeshina Community, expressed his frustration over the persistent attacks. He spoke to journalists, describing the murder of the four farmers as “one too many” and criticized the state government for its failure to protect citizens from such violent attacks.
Samuel explained that the community had been experiencing an alarming rise in insecurity, which has led to the deaths of more than 20 farmers in the past month alone. He called for immediate action to stem the violence, stating that the government’s inability to address the issue was contributing to the growing frustration among the people.
Samuel lamented that during the tenure of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, such attacks were not as common, but now it seems that the situation has worsened significantly under the current administration. He urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to take a more proactive stance in protecting the lives of Ondo residents and to consider empowering local communities to defend themselves.
“I’m afraid that if nothing is done soon, our people will be forced to take up arms to protect themselves,” Samuel warned. “We cannot sit back and watch our people be killed while the government does nothing.”
The traditional ruler’s statement reflects the growing sentiment among the people of Ondo State that they are no longer safe in their communities. With the police often accused of being slow to respond to emergencies and the state government yet to take significant steps to address the situation, many residents have begun to consider taking matters into their own hands.
In his comments, Samuel expressed that the residents might soon be left with no choice but to arm themselves in self-defense, despite the risks involved. “If the government is not going to protect us, then we will have to do what we can to protect ourselves,” he said, noting that the safety of the people should come before any concerns about the legal ramifications of self-defense.
Many community leaders and activists have echoed Samuel’s call for a more forceful approach to combat the violence in Ondo. They argue that the government should explore all options, including increasing security personnel in the affected areas and providing support to local communities who feel vulnerable and helpless.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, SP Alayande Olayinka, confirmed the incident and assured the public that measures were being taken to restore peace in the affected area. Olayinka stated that tactical teams had been deployed to the community to maintain order and ensure the perpetrators of the killings were brought to justice.
“Our operatives are already on the ground to ensure that peace is maintained in the community. We are fully committed to ensuring that the criminals behind these heinous acts are apprehended and face the law,” Olayinka said.
Despite the police assurances, the situation remains tense, and many residents are skeptical about the government’s ability to bring lasting peace to the area. While some have called for the strengthening of law enforcement, others believe that the issue can only be fully addressed if the government takes a holistic approach to tackling the root causes of the violence, such as land disputes and the unchecked movement of herdsmen across farmlands.
The protests and the growing dissatisfaction among the people of Ondo highlight a larger, ongoing issue in the state. The escalating violence is threatening to destabilize the agricultural sector, which is a crucial part of Ondo’s economy. The attacks on farmers not only endanger lives but also disrupt the food supply, affecting local markets and livelihoods.
With more farmers being killed in targeted attacks and the state government yet to offer a concrete solution, there are growing fears that the situation could spiral out of control. Many believe that a more robust response from both the federal and state governments is needed to protect citizens and restore peace to the state.
