In response to an ongoing attack by alleged herders, residents of Ijagba, Imoru, and Arimogija in the Ose Council area of Ondo state have begun to leave the community and move to nearby cities and villages.
The majority of the locals, who are farmers, have been threatened by the herders to peacefully leave their farmlands for them or risk being killed in retaliation.
According to reports, the locals left their houses in dread to other cities and villages to avoid being brutally slain by the ravaging herders.
An anonymous local claimed that despite being reported to security personnel, the armed bandits have been frightening them for more than two weeks.
He said, “In the last two weeks, they have killed so many of our people, who are farmers right inside their farms and set many farmlands ablaze.
”Our farms which contain yam, maize, cassava, and other crops were destroyed by their cows.
”ln some cases, they have even abducted farmers and have demanded for ransom before their release.
“They have instructed us to vacate our farmland for them and many farms have been taken over by these bandits.
“They will move into houses and kidnap. A young girl was recently abducted a few hours after they released a farmer.
“They collected a huge sum of money before they released the farmer, who has since fled the community.
“These fearful incidences have forced residents of the communities to flee their homes to neighboring towns and villages.
“The fear of further attack, kidnap and rape of residents wives and daughters by the herdsmen, have created tension and anxiety within the community.”
Ibrahim, one of the community leaders, pleaded with Rotimi Akeredolu, the state governor, to send the state security team with the codename Amotekun to the neighborhood.
Ibrahim claimed that because the herders had gained control of the rural hamlet, the locals are afraid to close their eyes when they sleep.
When contacted, Funmi Odunlami, a spokesperson for the state police command, denied knowing about the assault.
Odunlami said, “We are not aware of such an attack. But l will get across to the Divisional Police Officer DPO in the area for a briefing.”
