One Reportedly Killed As Herdsmen Invade Farm In Ago-Owu

• 1,000 Hectares of Maize, Cassava Destroyed

THERE is a growing security concern in Ago Owu Government Farm Settlement, Ikoyi in Isokan local government area of Osun State.

Some herdsmen have reportedly invaded the farm settlements, attacking the farmers and destroying their farms at will. 

This is just as farmers in the settlement accused the Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Taofeeq Morenigbade, of sending thugs to attack them. 

According to the farmers, both the herdsmen and thugs have constantly been attacking them and destroying their farms, calling on the state government to put an end to it. 

The farmers claimed that the attack had led to the death of one of them whose name was not mentioned.

Apparently worried about the situation, the farmers protested to the Osun State Government Secretariat on Tuesday to intimate Governor Ademola Adeleke of their plight. 

The farmers called on the State Government to intervene and stop the alleged unlawful act of Oba Morenigbade.

Armed with placards with inscriptions such as; Governor Adeleke Save Our Souls from Olukoyi, Olukoyi Beware of Governor Adeleke wrath, 1000 Hectares of Maize, Cassava Destroyed by Herders, Ago-Owu Farm Settlement is Osun Value, Olukoyi Vows to Take Over Ago-Owu Farm Settlement”, among others, the farmers said they were living in fear. 

The leader of the farmers, Mr Adebanji Obenbe, said they were given land to farm by the state government and are paying taxes and dues to the government annually.

Obenbe, a retired civil servant who said he settled in the farm settlement after his retirement, called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to protect them from the alleged incessant attack and harassment by Oba Morenigbade.

He said: “Ago-Owu farm settlement that we all know is under the Ministry of Agriculture, we have issues that are disturbing us and holding the peace of the community. In fact, one person has been killed during this struggle. We are here to call on Governor Adeleke to help us from the torture, attack and harassment by the Onikoyi of Ikoyi.

“Onikoyi’s men take guns and cutlass to our farm to cut our crops, they said the Olukoyi asked them to do so. We went to meet the Onikoyi and he said he truly sent them but he didn’t instruct them to cut the crops but he asked them to resell the lands to us.”

“They have pursued a lot of people from the farm with guns, and we didn’t react because it was the state government that put us there.”

Obenbe said the action of the monarch is a recipe for crisis if not quickly checked by the government.

“The action of the monarch can lead to huge crisis and war within his domain and disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the area if not quickly checked by the government. 

Governor Adeleke should stop Onikoyi from his lawlessness, using his royal office to oppress and suppress Ago Owu farmers”, Obenbe added.

The farmers also called on the government to help them stop the herdsmen who invaded their farmlands and damaged their crops.

When contacted, Oba Morenigbade denied the allegations against him, saying the farmers should channel their grievances to the police.

“I don’t know anything about that. I’m currently out of the country. If they have grievances, they should channel it to the police,” he said.