Residents flee as herdsmen invade Ondo communities

•They destroyed our farmlands, raped our women — Residents

•They enter our community  through Edo — Monarch

•Police keep mum as Akeredolu vows to flush them out

RESIDENTS of Ijagba, Imoru and Arimogija communities in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday, fled their homes to neighbouring towns and villages, over incessant attacks by suspected marauding herdsmen.

It was gathered that the herdsmen had warned residents of the communities, who are mostly farmers, to vacate their farmlands peacefully, adding that failure to do so would make them lose their lives. 

It was said that the residents, out of fear, fled their homes to neighbouring towns and villages, to avoid being murdered by the marauding herdsmen.

A resident from one of the communities, who spoke with newsmen in confidence, alleged that the armed bandits have been terrorizing them for over two weeks despite reporting them to security operatives.

The community member, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said: “In the last two weeks, they have killed so many of our people, who were farmers right inside their farms and set many farmlands ablaze.

"Our farms, which had yam, maize, cassava, and other crops, were destroyed by their cows.

"In some cases, they abducted farmers and demanded ransom before their release.

"They instructed us to vacate our farmland for them and many farms have been taken over by these bandits.

“They move into houses and kidnap at will. A young girl was recently abducted a few hours after they released a farmer.

"They collected huge sums of money before they released the farmer, who has since fled the community.

"These fearful incidents have forced residents of the community to flee their homes to neighbouring towns and villages.

"The fear of further attacks, kidnap and rape of our wives and daughters by the herdsmen, has created tension and anxiety within the community.”

We’re constantly under attacks — Community leader

One of the leaders in the community, who identified himself as Ibrahim, urged Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to deploy Amotekun to the community to restore normalcy.

Ibrahim said that the residents of the community cannot sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of being attacked by the herdsmen who have taken over the agrarian community.

Police keep mum

When contacted, spokesperson of the Ondo Police Command, Funmi Odunlami said: “We are not aware of such an attack. But I will get across to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the area for briefing.”

We'll flush them out —Akeredolu

Reacting to the attack, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said: “The herdsmen attacking our communities are from the neighbouring border states. Our side is secured because of the presence of Amotekun in all parts of the state.

"But we are trying our best to secure our state and to prevent them from further encroachment from neighbouring border states. We will flush them out.

"We are not relenting; we will continue to ensure the safety of our people in the border towns.”

Efforts to speak with the state commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, proved abortive as he failed to pick his calls.

But sources within Amotekun said Governor Akeredolu has given marching orders to security agencies in the state to protect the residents in the border towns against herdsmen from neighbouring states.

Herdsmen enter our communities through Edo State, says monarch 

In his reaction, the Olumoru of Imoru, Oba Rotimi Obamuwagun said: “It is true that the criminals invade our communities ferociously. If not for the state government’s intervention in the matter, the criminals would have sacked all the communities here and sent everyone away from their homes. But we thank the government for intervening."