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Farmers in Ondo State have been called upon to return to their farms in order to prevent food scarcity in the next farming season in the state.
Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), who made the call while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Akure, however, said the government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had put in place, the adequate security towards preventing any attempt clashes between the farmers and herders which may likely resulted to scarcity of food across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.
He stressed that adequate security should be provided to ensure that farmers can cultivate their farms in peace and are not driven away from their farms.
Adeleye, who said about 17 suspects have been arrested for different crimes within the last two weeks in the state, said “herders are free to do their business and farmers are free to cultivate. Farmers will not infringe on the rights of the herders, while herders have no right to destroy people’s farms.
Read also: Farmers, herders’ clashes, our biggest challenge in Ondo – Amotekun
“So on farmers and herders clashes, even though it has reduced, but what we are saying is that the government does not want it to happen again in order to prevent scarcity of food in the next season. We want our farmers to go back to their farms. As we talk, the Amotekun Rangers are in the forest, and we want to thank the farmers and members of the public, the Hunters Association, and the Vigilante Groups for giving us timely information to work with.”
According to him, “We are glad to let you know that the Corps, within the last two weeks, has been able to foil five kidnap cases, and in all five cases, no single ransom was paid.
“The latest of this rescue mission took place in the last 24 hours, where a chief in a community close to Akure was kidnapped, and our distress line was contacted. With the joint efforts of the local hunters, and officers and men of Amotekun, we walked overnight, pursued the kidnappers, and were able to retrieve the two of them, the chief and the Okada rider that was kidnapped without payment of any ransom.
“Again, the perpetrators of evil in Akoko axis, the northern senatorial axis of the state, some of them were arrested, they attempted, and actually kidnapped victims along Ajegunle Road, and at about 2am, between 1 and 2am, they came with their heads, ravaged their farms, raped their women, and ran away.
“Our tactical team moved in, under the leadership of the area commander of our Zone 6, and within 48-hours, the people were released, and three that had been identified as part of the gang were arrested. We have them here, both the victim and the suspects. The same thing goes to the central senatorial district, where some kidnapped suspects were arrested again by officers and men of the Amotekun Corps, and they had equally been identified
Read also: How Amotekun stopped payment of N150m ransom to kidnappers in Ondo
“What the government of Ondo State is saying is that we are saying no to kidnap for ransom in Ondo State. We are saying no way to kidnap for ransom in Ondo State. Herders are free to do their business, farmers are free to cultivate. Farmers will not infringe on the rights of the herders, while herders have no right to destroy people’s farms.
“We want to reassure them that this information will continue to treat them in confidence. Today, we have eight suspects under the breaking of law and order. We have three kidnapped suspects, and we have six involved in robbery and rape. Across the board, we want to say to commuters, residents of Ondo State that Ondo State is safe, and we are prepared in collaboration with all sister security agencies to ensure that we sustain the peaceful atmosphere that Ondo State currently enjoys. This is easy for us to achieve with your support in terms of timely information. While all the suspects will face the normal procedure after investigation and prosecution.”
