By Ayodele Oni

While the four communities ravaged by suspected Herdsmen in Ondo State are counting their loses, the State Government and Police Command are insisting that the incidents were blown out of proportion.

The affected communities are Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor and Ademekun Communities all in Akure North local government.

Report reveal that the suspected herdsmen have been attacking different communities and killing farmers unchallenged by security agents.

In their narrations, the communities stated that the attacks started on Friday night when everyone was asleep. “They opened fire at everyone at sight. So many ran to the bush for safety while some unlucky ones were killed at the villages . I am sure that over 40 people have been killed while many  sustained injuries.

“On Sunday, the security men came around and recovered some of the the corpses. Many are still not found, if they search further they will still find more dead bodies in the bush.”

The Regent of one of the affected communities, Ademekun Village, Princess Adelowo Adekemisola, revealed that more than 14 farmers lost their lives as the herdsmen infiltrated the areas and started shooting sporadically.

The Regent, when narrating her experience before the Ondo State Government representatives at a town hall meeting with cocoa farmers in Akure on Monday said that her community had been battling with the herdsmen problem without security actions.

But the State Government, apparently, while trying to downplay the incidents, insisted that report of Herdsmen attack in Ondo is False.

A statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor on Security Matters, Olugbenga Atiba, stated: “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious report being circulated by some section of the online media that armed herdsmen attacked communities in Ondo state and killed some farmers.

“We want to state categorically that this report is not only an absolute falsehood but an attempt by the sponsors of the fake news to create panic among the residents of the state.

“For the umpteenth time, we advise the purveyors of this hoax to desist from such an act that is capable of creating chaos, disunity and distrust between the people and the government.

“It is public knowledge that the government of Ondo state, efficiently-led by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, prioritizes the security of lives and property of every resident of the state where they live, work and play.

“We, therefore, enjoin our people in the state to continue to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as the state government has created a peaceful and safe ambience for all and sundry.”

The State Command of the Nigeria Police, which is still battling with inadequate equipment, which has hindered performance, in its update on the incident said:

“The attention of the command has been drawn to a misleading report claiming that the police confirmed attacks on four communities in Ondo State and that twenty (20) farmers were killed

“For the record, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ala received information regarding an attack at Sunday Camp, a settlement along the boundary of Ondo and Edo States, on March 8, 2025.

“However, the Police Command never confirmed the killing of 20 farmers, as falsely reported.

“The Command is aware of the attack on Sunday Camp  and the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi psc+, mnips, has directed that the ongoing covert operation being carried out across the state to rid the command of bad elements be intensified.

“The Command urges Journalists and Media outlets to verify information from official source before publication to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic in the State.”

By Ayodele Oni

Security Operations are at their lowest ebb. Operatives seem helpless because the things they need to work with are not there. Vehicles are broken down and funds are scarce.

Once upon a time, residents of Ondo, the Sunshine State, could go to bed with their two eyes closed. This was because of the effective and efficient security which network prevailed in the State at that period. The Police, Army and the South West security network, Amotekun, all collaborated to give criminals sleepless nights and succeeded in driving them out of the State.

But that was then. Things have gone awry now to the extent that armed Herdsmen, in one fell swoop,  attacked four communities at a stretch without checking, killing and maiming innocent residents. The question everybody is asking is: where are those security agencies, especially Amotekun Corps that were a thorn in the flesh of the herders?

Before, no week would pass- by without a breakthrough of either arrest of kidnappers or herders destroying farms. All these seem to be a thing of the past.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Wilfred Afolabi, who resumed duties in the State a few months ago, tried to shed light on problems which may likely have crippled security in the State.

The police Commissioner mentioned some of the challenges of the command in carrying out its duties in terms of patrol vehicles and other logistics needed for smooth operations.

According to him,  if the command is equipped with hi-tech devices, including drone, trackers and other devices for lawful interception, fighting crimes in the State would be done seamlessly.

Afolabi revealed that the Command needs assistance from government and other stakeholders in the State in terms of provision of patrol vans and the repair of grounded patrol vehicles for timely and effective response to distress calls.

“We can’t use orthodox method to address present security challenges. Most of our vehicles are grounded. The refurbishing are ongoing through the financial assistance from the people.

“We need Military drone that can go 50km, live tracking devices to get the location where criminals are hiding, Lawful Intersection (LI), fueling of vehicles among others.

“Now, kidnapping has gone highly sophisticated and you can confirm it from anybody. We can’t use the same old method, or maybe the approach of the 70s or the 80s or even the 90s to address this present security challenges.

“In a lot of States where they are having successes and breakthroughs, they have hi-tech machines, drones, Lawful Intersection machine (LI), life tracking, but here, we don’t have them.

“So, most times, what we rely on whenever there is any incident of kidnapping, you deploy your men into the bush, to comb the bush. That is archaic and you hardly can achieve much success.”

Besides, the CP noted that consistent migration into Ondo State among other factors contribute to the prevailing situation of criminality in the State.

“There are lot of people migrating, relocating to the Southern part of the country and they are coming in hundreds and thousands, and there is no directive coming from anywhere that this movement should be checked.

“So, there is no doubt about it that the rate at which people are migrating, relocating into Ondo State is further worsening the prevailing security challenges we have.”

The attacks on the four communities are  not the only sore point in the ongoing criminal activities in the State. The recently released youth leader of Afenifere was abducted in the Akoko area of the State. A convoy of the Leadership of the National Association of the Nigerian Students, (NANS), was attacked in the State on their way to Abuja. These are just few to mention.

Everyday in the Akoko area of the State, which is the most volatile and abode of criminal elements, travelers are abducted both day and night as a result of the absence of security personnel.

The State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, whose tenure was extended towards the end of last year has been inactive, apparently for similar reasons adduced by the Police Commissioner.

Inside sources disclose that Amotekun operation is hampered by inadequate personnel, lack of functional vehicles and funds, unlike during the immediate past administration when the job was made easy for them by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, whose efforts and commitment led to the formation of Amotekun.

Operational vehicles are grounded within the premises of the security outfit in Akure, while some of the officials attacked in the course of their official duties are battling for survival, using personal money to take care of themselves.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatuwa is being accused of non- release of funds like his predecessor to the security agencies in the State. His Aide on security matters, Olugbenga Atiba, in his reaction to the herdsmen invasion of four communities believes that enemies of the administration are behind the report.

Atiba stated that “It is public knowledge that the Government of Ondo State, efficiently led by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, prioritizes the security of lives and property of every resident of the State where they live, work and play.” That’s his belief. Those that have been killed or sent out of their homes cannot agree with him.

From the way insecurity is rising in the state, the people may be forced to resort to defending themselves or worse still relocate to more peaceful States within the neighbourhood.