Ondo community raises alarm over invasion of farmlands

The people of Gbalegi community in Idanre local government area of Ondo State have raised the alarm over the invasion and destruction of farms and economic trees running into millions of Naira in the rural community by some suspected hoodlums.

The suspected hoodlums were said to have laid siege on the community for the past days harvesting crops, attacking farmers on their farmlands.

Speaking on the invasion of the hoodlums, a community leader, Mr Blessing Akintomide said the suspected hoodlums have been terrorising the community for the past few days

Akintomide who called on the state government and the security agencies to come to the aid of the community before it snowballed into a war between neighbouring communities.

He said “The people came en masse to invade the land claiming they are the owners of the land. They owned the land from Ijoka in Akure to Technical College in Idanre.

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“This community has been in existence for over 400 years living and farming peacefully until recently when they came to the community with cutlass, cudgel, and gun to chase away the farmer from their farms.

“Complaints were made to relevant authorities, like the Police, Department of State Security (DSS), and Civil Defence, and to the authority of Ondo State government who told us to calm down and that they will wade into the crisis. The more all these agencies wade into it, the more the crisis.”

Akintomide expressed dismay at the level of destruction the hoodlums have caused the community. He said the suspected hoodlums bulldozed acres of land that has cocoa and other crops.

According to him, the people who planted yams, maize, and other farming products were chased away from their land.

“We don’t know what caused their grievance this time. The crisis has affected farming, feeding, and so on. They came three days ago to attack the community again and uprooted cocoa they didn’t plant.

“They have turned that place into an armed robbery den. As a community, we do not want to take laws into our hands but we are calling on the Ondo State government, Inspector General of Police, and Commissioner of Police to come to our aid.”