Suspected Fulani herdsmen have attacked Ajegunle-Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The suspected herdsmen reportedly killed five members of the community in the attack.
The victims who were said to be labourers in the community, it was gathered, came from Plateau and Kaduna States.
Narrating how the incident happened, one of the farmers on the farm land, Akin Olowolafe said “the incident happened during the day when the Fulani herdsmen invaded the town and attacked our people.”
“This is how they always come to disturb us and destroy our crops and we have reported them to the state government and even to the security agencies but no positive actions were taken by the security agencies to stop the Fulani herdsmen activities on our farmlands.
“These Fulani herdsmen just entered the farmlands as we were working and they started shooting sporadically into the air and eventually killed five people during the attack,” he stated.
According to Olowolafe, “the attacks and armed robbery, which now occur on a daily basis around the area, have made life unbearable for us because of the unchecked, intensified attacks and lack of intervention from appropriate authorities in the state.”
He said many farmers in the community have fled their farms for fear of being killed, saying that the incessant clashes and destruction of farm crops are very worrisome and have led to boycotting of farms by farmers in the area.
Olowolafe pointed out that the community, which relies on crops they produce to survive, are being threatened by daily destruction of such crops by cattle that usually invade their farmlands.
He called on the state government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the security agencies to intervene and save them from constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami who confirmed the incident, said “there was an attack on the community and police are still investigating the attack. But I cannot confirm the number of people that were killed.”
