Residents Storm Ondo Governor’s Office with Bodies of Slain Farmers in Outrage Over Herders’ Attack
Tension gripped Ondo State as grieving residents transported the bodies of several farmers allegedly killed by armed herders to the state governor’s office in Akure. The dramatic protest followed a deadly attack in the state’s agrarian community, sparking widespread outrage and renewed calls for government intervention.
The victims, mostly local farmers, were reportedly ambushed on their farmlands in the early hours of the day. Eyewitnesses claim that suspected herders carried out the assault, leaving multiple people dead and others severely injured.
In an emotionally charged response, community members, led by youth groups and local leaders, conveyed the remains of the deceased to the Government House premises. Chanting protest songs, they demanded swift action from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and decried what they described as a long-standing lack of security in rural areas.
One of the protesters, who identified himself as Mr. Femi Akinlolu, said the community had repeatedly warned of escalating threats posed by armed herders. “We have cried out many times, but nobody listened. These are innocent farmers trying to feed their families, now butchered on their own land,” he said.
Security personnel were deployed to calm the situation, and government officials later addressed the protesters, assuring them that investigations would begin immediately and those responsible would be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the killings and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. In a press release, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and vowed to liaise with security agencies to prevent further violence.
The incident has once again spotlighted the growing tension between farmers and herders across Nigeria, a crisis that continues to claim lives and disrupt livelihoods, especially in rural commun
ities.
