BY OLORUNFERANMI ODOFIN
Farmers, drivers, forest guards among other groups in Ondo State have described the eviction notice given to illegal herders in the State Forest Reserves as a round peg in a round hole
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum for the eviction of herdsmen occupying the forest reserves illegally.
The Groups made their support known during a solidarity visit at the gate of the Governor’s Office in Akure on Thursday.
The spokesperson, Mr Gbenga Obaweya, in a letter of solidarity said the criminal elements had seen the forest reserves as hideouts for their nefarious activities
Mr Obaweya, who also supported the ban on night grazing, movement of cattle in the cities and highways across the state, was optimistic that the step would boost the economy and induce food Security in the state
He opined that if not checked, criminal activities of the herdsmen could lead to severe famine as farmers now avoid their farmlands for fear of being raped, kidnapped or killed
Responding, the secretary to the state government, Mr Temitayo Oluwatuyi, pointed out that government owed it a responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people.
Mr Oluwatuyi appealed to the people to be law abiding, adding that all hands would be on deck to ensure economic rejuvenation through agro-entrepreneurship