Residents of Oke Ako Ekiti in the Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State have raised the alarm over destruction of their farms by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The residents, who spoke with our correspondent, accused the herdsmen of grazing beyond the time stipulated by the state government.

Governor Ayodele Fayose had, on August 29, 2016, signed a bill concerning grazing activities into law.

The law provides that any farm produce destroyed by the activities herdsmen between 6am and 6pm, shall be estimated by agricultural officers and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprits.

It was gathered that there was renewed rivalry between farmers and herdsmen in the town.

Some farmers recently dragged some herdsmen before the police for destroying their crops and were made to pay for the damages.

A resident said the herdsmen in some cases, after paying compensation for destroyed crops, returned to the same farm to destroy the remaining crops.

The Regent, Tinuade Adebayo, said about 10 farmers came to his palace to lodge complaints against some herdsmen who destroyed their crops.

“The destruction of farms by herdsmen has been on for some time. The herdsmen refused to register as directed by the government. It has been complaint upon complaint. We want the government to come to our aid,” the regent stated.

The Councillor for Oke-Ako/Ipao/Irele, Olusegun Kehinde, said efforts were being made to ensure peace in the town.

“We are making efforts to ensure the herdsmen are registered. With that, we will be able to check their activities. They will also help us to monitor and report strange faces among them. We have also convened a meeting with youths in the town in order to maintain peace and order,” Kehinde, who spoke with our correspondent, said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alberto Adeyemi, did not return calls to his telephone or respond to a text message sent to him.

Some herdsmen had attacked Oke Ako in May, 2016, killing two persons and injuring several others in a night raid.

Last week, there was tension between herdsmen and hunters in Ipao-Ekiti, a town close to Oke Ako.

http://punchng.com/herdsmen-destroying-our-farms-ekiti-residents-cry-out/

Fulanis again