Farmers in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have taken to the streets again in protest after suspected herders killed three farmers on Tuesday morning. The killings have sparked fresh outrage and renewed fears over growing insecurity in rural communities.
The angry farmers, numbering in the hundreds, blocked major roads near the Shoprite Roundabout in Akure, just a few meters from the Governor’s Office in Alagbaka. They brought with them the bodies of the slain farmers, which they covered with leaves, as proof of the attack. The protest caused serious traffic jams in the area that lasted for several hours.
“This is no longer a joke. They keep killing our people, and nobody is doing anything. That’s why we brought the corpses here so that the government will stop denying it,” said Patrick, one of the protesting farmers.
According to eyewitnesses, the three farmers were ambushed and shot dead while on their way to their farms in the Ajagbusi area of Ala Elefosan.
Chief Taiwo Samuel, a traditional ruler in the area, said the attack happened in the Thirteen Camps area. “Three of our farmers were killed this morning. Just two days ago, another person was killed. That makes four in a week,” he told reporters at the protest.
Chief Samuel criticized the government for not doing enough to protect rural communities. “The government has failed us. We want the governor to know that people are dying. These are human beings, not goats,” he said.
He also claimed that security promises made by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa after a previous attack had not been fulfilled. “The governor told us he would secure the place, but nothing has changed. If we try to defend ourselves, they will arrest us. Is that fair?” he asked.
Tuesday’s killings are the latest in a string of violent attacks in Akure North. In March, five people were killed in Aba Oyinbo community. Before that, 14 people were reportedly murdered by gunmen in the communities of Ademekun, Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, and Alajido.
The recurring violence has raised tensions and fears among residents, with some traditional leaders and farmers accusing security agencies of ignoring their plight.
The regent of Ademekun community, Princess Kemisola Adelowo, had earlier cried out after her village was attacked in March. “They killed 14 people and even threatened to kill me too. I am begging the governor to come and rescue us,” she said.
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The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the Tuesday killings. Police spokesperson Mr. Olayinka Alayande said tactical teams had been deployed to the area. “We are working to restore peace and arrest the attackers,” he said.
However, all efforts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Aiyedatiwa were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off.
Governor Aiyedatiwa had previously promised to bring the killers to justice. Speaking through the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the governor vowed to increase security presence in the affected areas.
“On behalf of the good people of Ondo State, I commiserate with the affected families. We will secure the area and bring the culprits to justice. It is a very unfortunate situation, and we pray such an incident never happens again,” Adeleye said.
Meanwhile, the corpses of the three slain farmers have been deposited at the morgue of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Akure.
The farmers, however, say they are running out of patience. Many fear that unless the government takes serious action, more lives will be lost. “This is no longer just about farming. It’s about survival,” Patrick said.