Residents of the Ayede Ogbese community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have expressed concern over the continued destruction of their farmlands by herders.
According to the residents, majorly farmers, the anti-open grazing law recently signed by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had not been effective in the community due to the manner in which herdsmen destroyed farms with their cows.
The residents, who converged on the palace of Alayede of Ogbese to register their grievances over the situation, threatened to resort to self-help if the activities of the herders continue.
One of the chiefs in the community, Chief Simon Oduh, disclosed that series of meetings held with the leadership Miyetti Allah had not yielded any positive result, emphasizing that the herdsmen had remained adamant.
The residents also maintained that moves might be made to collaborate with the local hunters and vigilantes to free their community from herdsmen from further destroying their farms with the support of the Amotekun Corps.
On her part, the Regent of Ayede Ogbese, Princess Bukola Akinyede, maintained that people in the community had been law-abiding while the herdsmen made life difficult for the farmers who took various loans to cultivate the farmlands.
While soliciting urgent intervention from the government, Princess Akinyede said she had contacted and notified the state Commissioner of Police and the council authorities over the development.
We will send anti-open grazing bill to state Assembly soon – Gov Wike