Insecurity: Ondo monarchs raise alarm over influx, attacks of herdsmen
Monarchs in Ondo State, weekend, decried the influx of herdsmen and the spikes in their attacks on farmers, kidnapping, rape and the destruction of farmlands.
They lamented that the incessant attacks usually left in their wake massive destruction of lives, properties, arson, rape of married women, teenagers, underage, kidnaping and murder, among others.
In a Save our Soul message to the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, the monarchs from Ose council area of the state, noted that attendant dangerous implications for food security not only in agrarian communities but also the entire state as a whole.
Rising from a stakeholders meeting, the monarchs, including Olute of Ute, Oba (retd Major) Oluwole Akinrongbe, Olumoru of Imoru, Oba ‘Rotimi Obamuwagun, Arujale Ojima of Okeluse, Oba Oloyede Akinghare and Odibiado of Ijagba, Oba Andrew Okioya, said the activities of the herdsmen had hindered preparation for the planting season.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the monarchs said: “Farmers who are supposed to mobilize for the new farming season have been driven from farms by heavily armed miscreants who have been mobilising themselves into the area on a daily basis.
The royal fathers called on the state government and security agencies to take urgent steps to stem the dangerous tide, saying the rate, level and degree of unprovoked attacks on towns, villages and settlements in the area was becoming very scary and highly embarrassing.
They commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the police, Amotekun Corps and other security agencies for tackling insecurity in the state but called for increased and urgent steps to restore peace and sanity in the affected areas.
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“We passionately appeal that more definite and significant efforts be put in place to ensure more holistic approach to this unending security problems.
” The emerging insecurity in the area, if not tackled with increased efforts, could result in famine in the state.
“The rate, level and degree of unprovoked attacks on towns, villages and settlements in the southern part of Ose Local Government Area are very scary and highly embarrassing.
“These perennial/incessant attacks usually leave in their wake massive destruction of lives, properties, arson, rape of married women, teenagers, underage, kidnaping, murder etc.
“All the camps, villages, settlements and suburbs like Arimogija have been sacked by these terrorists, bandits and armed herders with sophisticated weapons and these perpetrators destroyed hectares of plantations of plantains, cassava, yams etc at will, harvest such crops and feed their animals e.g. cows with them.”
livelihood depends on these efforts now totally annihilated.
“Now, our people live in constant fear and can no longer access their farmlands and places of business because the bandits, terrorists and armed herders have forcibly occupied and taken over our farmlands and forests.
“Deployment of more security personnel to this area due to its strategic position and establishment of Forward Operational Base in the area is urgently needed.
“Creation of standard police divisions in the area, provisions of effective patrol units in the area and proper clearing of the road verges in the area to ensure clear visibility ir required.
“Deployment of a unit of Mobile Policemen with Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, deployment of technology to assist in the surveillance of ground forces and urgent provision of relief materials and economic empowerment for the displaced persons to prevent them from going into crimes is also urgently needed.”
