Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
NO fewer than six farmers and traders have been hacked to death by suspected herdsmen in Ondo State.
The killing took place in the Arimogija and Molege communities of Ose Local Government Area of the state.
The six victims were killed while trying to resist the invasion of their farms and homes by herdsmen after an earlier destruction of their farmlands.
The bloodthirsty herdsmen also reportedly attacked some traders returning from Akure, killed all the occupants of the vehicle, confiscated their money and other belongings before setting their vehicle ablaze.
Sources said many houses, cars and motorcycles were also burnt during the attack, while the families of the victims killed are said to be planning a reprisal attack.
A first-class traditional ruler in the area, the Onimoru of Imoru, Oba Rotimi Obamuwagun, who confirmed the invasion and killings, lamented the atrocities and criminal activities of the herdsmen in the area.
The monarch disclosed that over four hectares of cassava farmland belonging to one of his subjects were destroyed by the herdsmen.
He said the farm was financed through a repayble loan from a commercial bank.
He stated that the herdsmen, who always armed themselves with sophisticated weapons, are becoming more daring by visiting homes and dragging the farmers to the farm, ordering them to uproot cassava for their cows.
He noted that apart from their cows being fed with cassava, the armed herdsmen have also embarked on harvesting other farm products to feed themselves.
Corroborating, Oba Obamuwagun, the Odibiado of Ijagba, Oba Andrew Ikioya Ilevare, said the bandits have now resulted in harvesting plantains and bringing them to market to sell.
The traditional rulers, however, called on the state government to draft more Amotekun officials to the area and queried the rationale behind herdsmen carrying sophisticated weapons.
The chairman of the local government, Mr Adekunle Dennis, expressed worries and concerns over the incessant attacks on farmers and traders in the area.
He, however, assured the communities that something will be done urgently to checkmate the excesses of the herdsmen.
Adekunle called on the community leaders, youth organisations and other stakeholders to be more security conscious.
He equally advised them to thoroughly profile and search themselves with a view to fishing out informants who may be living among them.
Speaking on the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, said men of the command have been deployed to the area, assuring that the criminals would soon be arrested.