By Abiodun Badejo on April 13, 2016
Farmers in Ondo State, Wednesday raised an alarmed that they may not farm this year owing to incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

Chairman of Agricultural Commodities Association (ACA) in Ondo State, Mr. Akin Olotu made this known at an interactive forum between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state, which was organised by the State Police Command in Akure, the state Capital.

With this, famining may not occur in the state, according to the Chairman.

He said herdsmen had continuously destroyed farm products and also attacked their members, warning that night grazing by the herdsmen must be stopped in order to allow peace to reign.

At the time the event was ongoing, news filtered in that a herdsman had been allegedly murdered by unknown people at Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore local government area of the state.

The Head of Fulani Herdsmen, Alli Dango and Sarki of Hausas of Akure Kingdom, Alhaji Babangida Sodiq Kusada, who confirmed the killing said four other herdsmen, including members of the deceased’s family had been arrested.

As at the time of filing this report, it was not yet clear if it were members of Oodua People Congress (OPC) or farmers in the community that are behind the killing.

It will be recalled that the OPC Akure North local government coordinator, Mr. Ayodele Ige was murdered at the farm of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae in Ilado community.

Already, governor Olusegun, who had met with the OPC, called for calm and also charged the federal government to stop the incessant killings of the people by the herdsmen.

Kusada and Dongo said the deceased was declared missing after all efforts to trace him proved abortive.

They said their kinsman had been living in Ilara-Mokin for the past seven years and was preparing to relocate to his state when the incident happened.

According to them, “the deceased was sent by his kinsmen to buy food for them in Igbaro-Oke, the headquartres of Ifedore council area; so, he left with his motorcycle.

“It was after they waited for hours without seeing him that a search party was organized.

“His motorcycle was seen beside a bush along the road. His herds were also seen in the bush without him. They did not see him or his remains”, they said

They, however, said they suspected that the herdsman was killed because his cows destroyed someone’s farm in the town.

They appealed to people who have their farm products destroyed by herdsmen to report to the head of Hausa or Fulani community instead of taking laws into their hands.

A security source told our reporter that a detachment of policemen had been deployed to the community in order to prevent breakdown of law and order.

But the Police Public Relation Officer, (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph said he had not been briefed about the incident.

At the forum, farmers lamented that destruction of farm products by the herdsmen had created fear in the minds of farmers.

The farmers lamented the use of young teenagers of twelve to thirteen years in leading the cows to graze, saying they were inexperienced.

One of the leaders of the Hausa community in the state, Alhaji Usman Aminu said the community was living peaceful with the people of Ondo town due to some measures put in place.

He assured that creating identity for both the herds and the herdsmen will go a long way in solving the problems between farmers and herdsmen.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Hilda Ibifuro-Harriso, warned that young teenagers should desist from leading cows to graze.

She said they were inexperienced and not mature enough to do such job.