Ondo Assembly Decries Incessant Killings Of Farmers By Suspected  Herdsmen

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State House of Assembly, has decried activities of Fulani herdsmen in the State. It has, therefore, called on security agencies and the State Government to protect the lives of farmers.

The House strongly condemned the recent killings of a farmer, Mrs Ayelabola Lucia, and an okada rider, Sunday Oladele, popularly known as ‘Arogidigba’, at Ago Oyinbo in Igbatoro Familugba Community, Akure North Area of the state, by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

In a press statement made available to journalists on Wednesday in Akure, by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Oshati, the lawmakers described the killings as senseless and barbaric.

Earlier, the lawmaker representing Akure North Constituency, Kolawole Ologede, called for urgent action from the state government and security agencies to protect the lives of farmers in the area.

Expressing concern and sadness over the incessant killings in the constituency by the suspected herdsmen, he lamented that such incidents may discourage farmers from working if not urgently addressed.

The House further urged community leaders and residents to collaborate with security agencies in identifying the perpetrators, while appealing to the youths in the area to maintain peace and avoid considering reprisal attacks.

While calling for an immediate investigation into the incident, the lawmakers sympathized with the families of the deceased, assuring them that the perpetrators would face the full wrath of the law once arrested.

Sometimes in August, two farmers, identified as Segun and Paul, were attacked by suspected herdsmen while working on their farmlands.

The state security network, Amotekun had earlier announced the setting up of a special squad to protect farmers in the state.