A call has gone to the Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bolaji Salami, to safe farmers and their families from the daily embarrassment and attacks of the herdsmen in Akoko area of the state, particularly Auga, Akunu Ise, Ikaram, Ajowa, Gedegede and Surulere in Irun Akoko.
The call was made by some traditional rulers and community leaders in the area.
According to them, herdsmen attacks, kidnapping and armed Robbery have made life unbearable for them.
They posited that these communities which rely on arable crops they produce to survive are being threatened by daily destruction of such crops by cattle which usually invade their farmlands.
They went further to state that the confrontational attitude of the herdsmen also constituted threat to their lives as most often, they (herdsmen) usually kill or rape their wives.
According to them, many farmers in the area have fled their farms for fear of being killed or having their wives raped.
A monarch in Akoko Northwest Local Government of the state, the Onigedegede of Gedegede, Oba Walidu Sanni who was once attacked his palace, urged government to legislate on farmers/herdsmen relationships.
Oba Walidu charged the new Commissioner of Police to take proactive security measures that will put and end to the issue.
Another monarch, Princess Tolani Orogun said that she had settled not less than 15 cases between herdsmen and farmers in the last one year of her enthronement.
Orogun said the incessant clashes and destruction of farm crops are worrisome and it has led to boycotting of farms by farmers in the area.
The regent gave kudos to the Special Adviser to Ondo Governor on Security Matters Alhaj Jimoh Dojumo, for his tireless efforts and encouragement to Akunu vigilante group manning the borders.
In Surulere, a suburb in Irun Akoko where a 70 year old farmer, Rapheal Ojo Osayintuyi was strangulated to death in his farm after the crops were vandalised, the Baale of the community, Chief Sheriff Dauda, revealed series of atrocities of the herdsmen in the area.
Chief Dauda disclosed that the situation is now worrisome as it is negatively affecting the morale of the farmers.
The Baale of Surulere said most farmers who got loan from banks to farm are now growing goose pimples as they are not sure of the means to repay such loans.
A farmer in Ajowa Akoko, Alhaji Abu Oloruntoba who envisaged food scarcity and farm products price hike this year in Akoko area posited that famine is imminent if the situation is not brought under control.
Meanwhile Alhaj Oloruntoba disclosed that there are old herdsmen living with them peacefully over the year without much trouble but recent invaders are very new.
Efforts to speak with the Special Assistant on Hausa Fulani matters to Ondo state governor, Alhaji Bala Umar was not successful.
