HERDSMEN have again invaded and destroyed the farm of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, just as they attacked some workers on the farm.
The herdsmen, who were said to have camped their cows in the farm in Ilado village in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, were reported to have destroyed the maize farm before moving to the citrus farm, which they set on fire.
It was gathered that in addition to destroying the farm, the herdsmen invaded the farm house in the middle of the night and attacked the workers who had reported the incident to the police.
The attack was said to be their reaction to the warning given by the police, who ordered them against further destruction of the farm.
This development was confirmed by the Personal Assistant to Chief Falae, Captain Moshood Raji (retd), who explained that the herdsmen and their cows destroyed the maize farm worth millions of naira while they grazed their cattle.
“After the herdsmen attacked Chief Falae’s farm and destroyed maize worth millions of naira, they moved to the citrus farm and after harvesting the oranges, they set it on fire. We have reported the incident to the police and the hoodlums, who seem irked by the development, returned to the farm house and attacked the workers on the farm,” Captain Raji said.
He stated further that the herdsman had relocated their cows, numbering over 1,000 to the farm, adding that they move about both at night and day time, destroying farm produce.
Reporters At Large gathered that Falae, who was abducted in September 2015 by some herdsmen, had invited policemen to the farm following its incessant invasion and destruction by the herdsmen and their cattle.
This action, according to Raji, did not stop the herdsmen, numbering about 10, as they continued to move around the farm unhindered, insisting that they would not leave the farm because that’s where their cows graze.
He stated further that Chief Falae had written to the commandant of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, to appeal to the security outfit to save his farm and workers from further attacks.
Part of the letter read: “In the last few weeks, herdsmen came into my maize farm twice to eat up and trample large sessions of the farm. I reported the incidents to Alhaji Bello, the chairman of Miyetti Allah in Ondo State, but nothing has happened. In the last few days, they have gone to attack my citrus farm by stealing harvested oranges and destroying what they could not carry away.
“The police on security duty on the farm were sent to drive them away, but they have been coming back every night to attack my workers in our camp, breaking their doors and carting away all their belongings. Please, let Amotekun save us and our livelihood. They kidnapped me on September 21, 2015; they should not be allowed to do it again. Thank you for rendering our race this patriotic duty.”
When contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, said he was not aware of the incident.
