Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly attacked four communities in Akure North local government area of Ondo state, killing over 20 farmers.
The herdsmen weekend attacked Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, Ademekun camp and Aba Alajido located in Ala Elefosan in a midnight raid.
A community source said the herdsmen have been attacking communities in the area and killing farmers unchallenged by security agents.
The source noted that 14 dead bodies have been recovered in the last two days while searching for other missing residents continues.
The source lamented that over 20 people were killed during the night attacks by the bandits.
Confirming the attack, the regent of one of the affected communities, Ademekun village, Princess Adelowo Adekemisola, expressed sadness over the killings of over 14 farmers last weekend by the herdsmen who infiltrated the areas and started shooting sporadically.
The regent, while narrating her ordeal during a town hall meeting with cocoa farmers in Akure, said her community had been battling with the herdsmen problem without security response.
She said the herdsmen came through the Edo-Ondo boundary to attack them from time to time.
Also confirming the attacks, the spokesperson for the Police command in Ondo state, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, said the police and security agencies were working to track down the perpetrators and to protect other communities in Akure North local government area.
A farm owner, one Mr. Olanrewaju Oyeleye and his manager were kidnapped Friday in their farmland in Osi, Akure North local government area of Ondo state.
Oyeleye was said to have relocated from abroad to Akure about four years ago to invest in mechanised farming.
The kidnappers are reportedly demanding N100 million ransom for their release.