Farmers resident in Ondo State on Tuesday, April 8, stormed the streets of Akure to protest the killing of four of their colleagues by some armed men suspected to be herders.
The farmers in a bid to express their anger dumped the bodies of their colleagues on the street near the office of the state governor.
According to the protesters, the farmers were killed in the early hours of Tuesday, at the Thirteen-Thirteen farming settlement in Ajagbusi area of Ala Elefosan, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
They also alleged that 17 of their colleagues have been killed in similar attack by suspected armed herdsmen within the past three months.
Causing a serious gridlock in the area, several motorists were left stranded after the protesting farmers blocked the roundabout leading to Oda road and the governor’s office.
Speaking during the protest, the Head of Adeshina Community, Olu Samuel said members of the community are fed up with the incessant attacks.
Samuel said, “Three farmers were killed in the Thirteen 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,” he said.
He also called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to put in more efforts in addressing the incessant attacks on farmers by the armed herdsmen.
“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.
“During the late former governor’s administration, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, this kind of thing was not rampant, but 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 that are being killed are humans, not goats. More than 20 farmers have been killed in the past month,” he pleaded.