From Adewale Momoh, Akure

Protests yesterday rocked Akure, Ondo State capital following the fresh killing of another four farmers by gunmen suspected to be herders.

The farmers were killed in the Thirteen-Thirteen farming settlement in the Ajagbusi area of Ala Elefosan in the Akure North Local Council in the early hours of Tuesday while on their way to the farm.

Infuriated by the latest killing, youths of the community in their numbers brought the remains of the slain farmers to the secretariat in Alagbaka, the state capital.

The latest killing was coming a few weeks after five farmers were killed at ‘Aba Oyinbo’, Akure North Local Council, which was also followed with a heavy protest at the Governor’s Office along with the display of the corpses.

The protesters, who wore long faces, shut down and barricaded the intersection that led to the Governor’s Office and the federal secretariat, leaving commuters and motorists stranded.

Stern-looking security personnel were subsequently mobilised to the scene of the protest, after which the protesters were dispersed.

While lamenting the inability of the government to put a stop to the incessant attacks and killings, the traditional ruler of Adeshina Community, Taiwo Samuel, described the incident as one too many.

He said, “Three farmers were killed in the Thirteen camp in the Ajagbusi area of Ala Elefosan in Akure North Local Council. They were on their way to the farm this morning (Tuesday) when the Fulani herdsmen attacked them and shot them. One person was also killed two days ago.

“We purposely brought their bodies to Alagbaka for everyone to see what we are facing and to prevent any form of denial, which we have experienced in the past.

“The killing of our people by these herdsmen is becoming too much. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa promised us that the place would be fully secured after the last incident. With this latest development, the government must allow us to secure ourselves.

“It is disheartening that the government will continue to allow these killings to be going on. What we are certain about is that if we should defend ourselves and kill the attackers, we will be arrested and taken to Abuja,” he said.

Samuel added that during the late former governor’s administration, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, this kind of thing was not rampant.

He regretted that with the current governor, everything has gone awry.

“We are tired of these continuous killings; we can no longer sleep in our communities.

“Mr Governor should help us and stop these killings. People who are being killed are humans, not goats. More than 20 farmers have been killed in the past month,” he lamented.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alayande Olayinka, stated that tactical teams have been deployed to the area to restore normalcy and ensure the perpetrators are arrested.