Ondo Farmers Lament Destruction of Crops by Fulani Herdsmen

Farmers in Ondo State expressed their grief at the weekend over the  persistent attacks of Fulani herdsmen on their farmlands.

They made this known at an interactive session with stakeholders on Community Policing partnership held in Akure, the state capital.

In attendance were the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arise, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, AIG Kalafite Helen Adeyemi and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Ogbodu.

Some of the farmers had earlier narrated their ordeal  to news men in the hands of these herdsmen, saying the consistent attack of the fulanis on their crops such as rice, maize, vegetable and cocoa plantation had reduced their efforts to nothing.

In one of their numerous  attacks,  A prominent leader and former Secretary to the Government of Federation [SGF], Chief Olu Falae was last year September kidnapped by the herdmen and a N5million ransom was paid before he was released.

A farmer, Sunday Owoseni said they thought the condemnation of Falae’s abduction by various stakeholders across the country would help in reducing the attacks on their farmland but the reverse was the case.

However, Chief Bolanle Olujoka, who claimed to be one of the executives of Farmers’ Association in the state, narrated an incident in his area where Fulani herdmen attacked a farmer and the farmer called the police to arrest the herdsmen.

He alleged that the police later detained the farmer and some chiefs in that community.

Meanwhile, the IGP, Solomon Arase said they were working on how to put a stop to the attacks of herdmen, saying it was part of the issues he discussed with Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko when he earlier met him.