Barely two weeks after some fulani herdsmen attacked and kidnapped the
former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae,
some herdsmen have again destroyed the same farmland.
The farm Manager Bruno Akhigbodemen conducted newsmen round the farm
located at Ilado in Akure North Council area of Ondo State
Over one kilometer plantation of maize was destroyed during the invasion
at about 2am on Monday.
Akhigbodemen said that the herdsmen arrived the farm with their cows and
wrecked the havoc despite the horrible experience the workers and their
boss had in the last two week sequel to their menace.
He pointed out that effort by the guards to prevent the destruction of
the farmland were rebuffed as they were threatened by the herdsmen until
their cows grazed to their satisfaction.
The farm Manager said that the former Finance minister has reported the
latest destruction to the state Police Command for necessary action.
Vanguard learnt that following the complaint by Chief Falae, some
detectives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) were immediately
deployed to the farm on Monday.
They reportedly combed the neighboring villages for the suspects but they
were unable to make any arrest.
Report had it that the search still continues as some detectives still
keep vigil in the village.
It was gathered that the police authority has invited leaders of the
herdsmen in the state who stood surety for those that were arrested and
released during the last invasion when over N500, 000 worth of farm
products were destroyed.
Akhigbodemen described the destruction of the farm last week sunday as
devastating.
He appealed to the government and the security operatives to act
decisively on the menace of the herdsmen.
Chief Falae could not be reached for comment on the destruction of his
farmland which is coming after his kidnapped and payment of N5m ransom to
free him from his abductors.
It would be recalled that the former Minister for Finance has been having
issues with the fulani herdsmen ýwhose cows have on several occasions
destroyed his farmland.
He is billed to travel abroad this weekend for medical treatment after his
horrifying experience which he described as ” hell”.
The latest destruction according to findings is the fifth within two months.
Before his kidnap barely two weeks ago, two fulani herdsmen were arrested
and detained for destroying over N500,000 worth of farm products on the
farm.
They were released after some of their leaders wrote an undertaker that
they would pay compensation and would not encroach on the farm again.
Barely three weeks after the episode, Chief Falae was abducted by some gun
wielding Fulani herdsmen on the same farmland and was released after 72
hours.
No fewer than three policemen have been deployed to his Oba Ile residence
since his kidnap last month.
Contacted on the Sunday invasion and destruction of the farm by the Fulani
herdsmen, the Police Image Maker Femi Joseph said that he is not aware of
the incident.
Joseph was recently posted to the state and made the Command spokesman
last week.
Vanguard