So the people abandoned their farms so as not to be killed by the Fulani shepherds.
Our people left their farms so that they would not be killed by the Fulani shepherds – the inhabitants of Ondo.
Residents of the Owo Municipal District in Ondo State said they could no longer visit their farms for fear of being killed, raped or kidnapped by Fulani shepherds.
They said the recent killing of the vigilante and public security informant Ondo, better known as Amotekun by pastors, had created tension in the area and some residents had left the community.
A community resident told SaharaReporters that the Ovo Forest Reserve is now a no-go area as militants have taken over territory.
He said, “There is a lot going on in this area; this is the same area where they killed Olufon Iphon, Oba Isreal Adeusi. Unfortunately, the police are now inviting the leaders of this city to Abuja to explain why they killed the cow. When the monarch was killed, no one was invited.
“Secondly, during the last operation of Amotekun’s agents on Utah Road, they invited someone; Let me call him an informant, because the man knew the area of the forest reserve well. Amotekun’s coordinator in Ovo went to visit him at home. On the first day, they carried out a successful operation, arresting three Fulani shepherds. The next day they were ambushed, two people were killed and one person was missing.
“The body of one of the Fulani shepherds killed was left in the forest until someone called the governor’s former special adviser, who intervened. His body was then taken to the Federal Medical Center in Ovo. You will not believe that we paid for all the logistics of moving the body, not the government, not even Amotekun.
“The families of the two killed, the informant and the vigilante, were abandoned. There were no family visits either. Only Tin sent his bosses to meet with their families.
“Now most of us are afraid to go to our farms because of the Fulani shepherds, we do not want to be killed. Those who plucked up the courage to go to their farms found that all their agricultural products had been destroyed by the livestock of the Fulani shepherds.
“They rape every woman they find on the farm, or, alternatively, you leave your farm for them to save your life. This is the situation we are facing here. “
Last month, Governor Rotimi Aqueredolu issued a seven-day notice waiver of rights to shepherds working illegally in the state’s forest reserves.
In addition to expelling shepherds, the governor also banned grazing of children, night grazing and movement of livestock in cities and on highways.
The Governor said: “Today we have taken important steps to address the root cause of the kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious acts detailed and documented in security reports, press and abduction victims’ reports in Ondo State.
“As the leader of the law and public safety, I am constitutionally obligated to do whatever is legal to protect the lives and property of all residents of the state. In light of the above, the following directives are issued: All forest reserves in the state are to be cleared by shepherds within the next seven days, starting today, Monday, January 18, 2021. “
The issue caused a stir, and after meeting with some stakeholders, Aqueredolu asked herders to register with the government so that they could work in the forest reserves without hindrance.
Source: – SaharaReporters
