Akeredeolu Reads Riot Act To Herdsmen Over Incessant Attacks
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has warned against the incessant attacks on farms and killings of farmers in the state by herdsmen.
Akeredolu who also condemned the destruction of farmlands and the rape of the farmer’s wives and their girl children in the last three weeks, said his administration is proposing anti-grazing bill to curtail their menace.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on agriculture, Mr. Akin Olotu, the governor said, the menace of herdsmen is getting out of hands, if nothing is done to stop it.
According to him, no fewer than four farmers were killed in the last three weeks by the herdsmen in the state.
The governor further disclosed that about ten hectares of cassava farmland was also destroyed by the herdsmen and their cattle in Owo, Owo local government area of the state while some of the farmers were injured during the attack.
He said the activities of the herdsmen were not limited to a particular area in the state but across the state.
His words: “The state government is worried about this development. Though the herdsmen are doing their business, but they have been using their business to destroy other businesses.”
“The destruction of farmlands has been a source of concern to farmers in the state, while those who are just embracing farming as a source of livelihood has been discouraged.”
“Farmers have lost a lot of money to these destruction, obtaining loans from bank to finance the projects without making profit, because of the herdsmen and their cattle. Farm produce cannot be stored in the barn any longer.”
He explained that ponds and apiary worth millions of Naira were destroyed by the cattle and the herdsmen saying the fishes were taken while the honey combs were badly harvested by the herdsmen.
The governor however disclosed that all herdsmen operating in the state and their cows would be registered with codes to identify them henceforth.
