Ekiti community raises alarm over destruction of farmland by herdsmen

The people of Orin-Ekiti, Ido-Osi local government area of Ekiti state on Wednesday called on the state government to save the community from the hands of herdsmen suspected to be Fulani following the destruction of their farmland.

It would be recalled in June this year, a hunter Mr Emmanuel Ilori, was allegedly killed by the herdsmen while hunting in the abandoned farm settlement in the community.

Tribune Online gathered that the herdsmen with their herds on Monday invaded farmland in the community again as farm products worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Speaking with our correspondent, a farmer, Mr Olawale Olajubaje said his farm, including maize barn, was completely destroyed by the herds.

According to him: “The Fulani herdsmen brought their cattle to our farm. The cassava we stored on the farm was destroyed in the middle of the night on Sunday. Even beans, cassava, watermelon, cucumber that we are yet to harvest was destroyed for their cattle to eat.

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“Luckily when I was on the farm on Monday, I saw about 15 of them with dangerous weapons and I greeted them but they never answered me. As for my farm, crops worth N1.5 million were destroyed in my farm.

“The challenge we are facing in the community now is that we don’t know when they will be coming back to our farms. We are in serious fear, considering what happened in June this year when a hunter was killed by these people. We can only beg our government to help us in this community.”

The second in command to the monarch and the Eletin of Orin-Ekiti, Chief Francis Falua, told Tribune Online that the latest attack of the herdsmen was “massive destruction” of their farmland.

He lamented that residents could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed with fear of being attacked by the herdsmen, pleading with the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to save the community.

“These people(Herdsmen) are gradually sending us away from our community as a result of their activities. There is nothing remaining on our farm, it is massive destruction of our farm products now.

“Our people cannot go to their respective farms now because of fear of attack by the herdsmen. We are begging our government to help and save us from these criminals. What happened a few months ago is still fresh in our minds.”