Tension in Ekiti as Herdsmen ‘invade community, ravage farms, hoist flag’


Residents of Orin Ekiti, community in Ido/Osi local government area of Ekiti state, Wednesday, protested alleged attempt by suspected herdsmen to forcefully annex  their home land.
The protesting villagers, comprising old and young men and women, regretted that the suspected herdsmen, had destroyed crops worth over N50 million in farms belonging to 70 farmers.
They alleged that one person, Mr Emmanuel Ilori, had been killed by suspected herders while the Benue farmers farming in the town were chased away.


In fact, the community dwellers sighted a red flag already hoisted by the herders.
The protesters, who chanted derisive songs against the Invaders, paraded placards with the the following inscriptions: “Save Our Lives We are in danger in Orin Ekiti’, ‘Save Orin Ekiti from Herdsmen invasion’, ‘We are Tired of molestation by Herdsmen’, ‘We Won’t Allow Fulani to Chase us from Our Land’, ‘Govetnment Must Relocate Fulani Herdsmen’, among others.One of the community leaders,  the Onikare of Orin Ekiti, Chief Bamidele Fasuyi, told Newsmen  that the herders, had occupied and destroyed  crops planted on the abandoned 2500 acres of land at Orin Farm settlement .

“What they wanted  is to invade our land  and chase us away. They even killed one of our able bodied men this year. They are imposing some curfew in this town, because our youths can’t go to farm freely and government has not been doing something. Several hactares of land had been  destroyed. They used to operate at night with AK 47 rifle.
“Over 70 farmers  were affected in our record. Crops worth 50 million have been ravaged . They ate up their products like Cocoayam, yam, cassava  and others and made them to incur debts.
“We appeal to government to use the 2500 acres of land for farming. The state and federal government as well as  private bodies should come to our aid. There were facilities  like electricity, buildings and equipment that can aid farming if they want to invest “.


A youth leader, Mr. Omotoso Mathew Kayode, alleged that the suspected herders, had hoisted  a flag at the farm settlement, where they warned the farmers to keep off or face death.
“They  wrote keep off with a picture of a cattle  rearer on the flag.  This is a serious threat. The  police , NSCDC and soldiers removed  the flag last year , but they had hoisted another one.
“We used to do night guard to ward off attack,because the police had found it difficult to arrest them. Our graduates who have no jobs were going into farming , but they are suffering losses because of destruction by cows.
“They must vacate the place. Governor Kayode Fayemi  must relocate them. From our findings, they use to enter into this place from neighbouring towns like Isan, Ayede, and Ido, and we are suspecting conspiracy. There may be famine in the land with the way things are going .
“We are not compromising our stand on this relocation. Chief Obafemi  Awolowo-led government in the old Western region acquired  the land in  1958 for arable farming and  not for ranching”.


Omotoso appealed to Fayemi to compensate the farmers , for them not to abadon farming Outrightly.
The Oniwaro of Orin, Chief Mathew Oke, said Fayemi should comply with his promise to build a police station in the town and rejuvenate the farm settlement to ward off herdsmen  invasion in the area.

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