Temitope Adedeji
“Agbon n se, Oyin n se, oju Oloko re e gudugudu.” This popular Yoruba saying implies that some of the herdsmen around keep denying ever being involved in the killings of farmers in the State. They blamed it on the bad eggs among them anytime such an ugly incident occurred. The killings in farm settlements are gradually reducing the number of farmers we have in the state with little or no efforts to curb the menace of the killers.
Since the beginning of the year 2025, many farmers have been killed in the state by suspect herdsmen without any serious action or drastic steps from the government of the state.
In the Month of March 2025, nine farmers were said to have been killed by the suspected herdsmen in Ademekun village in Akure North local government.
Moreso, kidnapping cases in the state have been taken to be unprecedented since February this year across the local government areas of the state.
Ondo State, which was known to be relatively peaceful and safe among its peers some years back, has now turned into a free zone for herdsmen to operate.
Assassination is another act that is perpetrated whenever. A businessman at Ore in Odigbo local government area of the state, Alhaji Ismaila Awoyinka was assassinated while coming from a mosque beside his house till today, nothing has been heard about the killers
Same March 2025, no fewer than nine surveyors were kidnapped but were later released after the payment of ransom running Millions of Naira
At Owo, a man was kidnapped while trying to enter his house with his family. The son and the wife of the man were shot, the man was taken away, and the wife could not survive the bullet injuries.
At Aba Sunday, Eleyewo, Igbatoro, and Ilu Abo, all in Akure North, will not forget in a hurry the trauma of killing and kidnapping they all witnessed at the hands of the suspected herdsmen, still, no drastic measure to curb them.
In the Month of April, four farmers were said to have been killed at Ala-Elefosan in Akure, the headquarters of the herdsmen.
It is seen gradually these days by the people of the state capital that the herdsmen are getting to inflict fear into the minds of the people and that everyone has been left to his or her fate according to Barr David Awoyeri
According to Adeyeri
” the government of Ondo state seems to be sleeping over this issue of killings happening here and there under the nose of Mr governor “
In his suggestion, a banker, Mrs Titilayo Kelvin said the governor ought to have called on traditional rulers, hunters, and other traditionalists in the state and beyond, to assist and join forces with the government in fighting the daredevil herdsmen killing farmers and people at will
No doubt, the people of the state are living in palpable fear over the incessant killings all around the state.
Three to four years ago, a man from Oyo state popularly known as Sunday Igboho, saw from afar, that the herdsmen would one day be killing the sons and daughters of the Yoruba, he took the fight upon himself to stop the killings which he was tagged as someone who never loved the peace of the nation, but today, the killing is becoming unbecoming.
WHO WILL save ONDO STATE from the killings, not even the Police nor Amotekun corps officers. The state needs everyone more than ever because “eni ba ‘fe rere Jerusalem, yoo se rere, ( he who loves prosperity for Jerusalem, shall prosper)
Also, in the month of April, a socialite, Adesoji Adeleye, was assassinated in the state capital at his hotel located in the Arakale area of the state capital.
It would have pleased the people of the state to have records of good things happening, not these killings by both herdsmen and the assailants who have seen the state as a safe haven.
The truth has to be told, all is not well at this moment in the state as everybody is now living in fear as a result of the killings and assassinations being recently recorded.
Insecurity in the Northern and Central senatorial districts of the state calls for the immediate attention of the government to do the needful with the security agencies and also seek the indulgence of the traditional rulers; else, the herdsmen may continue in their dastardly acts if not checked.
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