There was palpable tension in Orin Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government area of Ekiti State on Wednesday as residents protest alleged invasion of herdsmen and destruction of farmland.
The protesters alleged that the suspected herdsmen had destroyed crops belonging to 70 farmers with a worth of over N50 million, adding that a man, Mr Emmanuel Ilori, was killed by the herders while the Benue farmers in the town were chased away.
They chanted derisive songs with placards displaying inscriptions like ‘Save Our Lives We are in danger in Orin Ekiti’, ‘Save Orin Ekiti from Herdsmen invasion’, ‘We Won’t Allow Fulani to Chase Us from Our Land’, ‘Government Must Relocate Fulani Herdsmen’, among others.
Speaking to journalists on the necessity of the protest, the Onikare of Orin Ekiti, Chief Bamidele Fasuyi, alleged that the herders had occupied and destroyed crops planted on the abandoned 2500 acres of land at Orin Farm settlement .
He said, “What they wanted is to invade our land and chase us away. They even killed one of our able bodied men this year. They are imposing curfew on this town because our youths can’t go to farm freely and government has not been doing something. Several hectares of land had been destroyed. They used to operate at night with AK 47 rifle.
“Over 70 farmers were affected in our record. Crops worth 50 million have been ravaged . They ate up their products like Cocoayam, yam, cassava and others and made them to incur debts.
“We appeal to government to use the 2500 acres of land for farming. The state and federal government as well as private bodies should come to our aid. There were facilities like electricity, buildings and equipment that can aid farming if they want to invest.”
A youth leader, Mr. Omotoso Mathew Kayode, said the invaders hoisted a flag at the farm settlement and warned the farmers to keep off or face death.
“They wrote ‘Keep off’ with a picture of a cattle rearer on the flag. This is a serious threat. The police, NSCDC and soldiers removed the flag last year but they had hoisted another one.
“We used to do night guard to ward off attack because the police had found it difficult to arrest them. Our graduates who have no jobs were going into farming , but they are suffering losses because of destruction by cows.
“They must vacate the place. Governor Kayode Fayemi must relocate them.
”From our findings, they used to enter into this place from neighbouring towns like Isan, Ayede, and Ido and we are suspecting conspiracy. There may be famine in the land with the way things are going.
“We are not compromising our stand on this relocation. Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led government in the old Western region acquired the land in 1958 for arable farming and not for ranching.”
Omotoso therefore appealed to Governor Fayemi to compensate the farmers so they won’t abandon farming.
The Oniwaro of Orin, Chief Mathew Oke, said Fayemi should comply with his promise to build a police station in the town and rejuvenate the farm settlement to ward off herdsmen invasion.