BY KAYODE ANIMASAUN
The Ondo state Security Network, known as Amotekun has arrested four suspected herdsmen for their involvement in the destruction of farmland belonging to a chieftain of PDP, Chief Eddy Olafeso.
Radio Nigeria had reported that cows belonging to the suspected herdsmen invaded and destroyed a N10million cassava farm at Igbaraoke, headquarters of Ifedore local government area of Ondo State, belonging to the former Commissioner for Information in the state.
The cassava farm located on 30 hectares of land was turned to a level ground, destroying all the cassava on the farm while the owner of the farm, Olafeso was almost in tears while lamenting over the destruction of his farm.
Parading the suspects who were among 80 suspects arrested for various offences, the amotekun commander, Adetunji Adeleye said, “They engaged in very massive destruction of farmland. In fact we have arrested some of those that engaged in the destruction of one of the principal officers of PDP that went viral, saying that his farm was destroyed.
“We have arrested four of them and they are part of those people we are parading. They will be charged to court by Monday.
“Some of these criminals were arrested right inside the forest. Again, the anti open grazing law is in force in Ondo State where we discouraged the use of underaged for grazing, especially when they engage in destruction of farm products.”
We have gotten owners of the farmland. we had equally allowed them to meet with the owners of the cows that destroyed their farmland and I think they are talking.
“But regardless of what they do, they had contravened the anti open grazing law, so they must fulfill the righteousness by going through the normal judicial system.”
Adeleye also said, “In the last 3 weeks, 80 criminals were arrested. In the last 1 week, about 32 were taken to court for prosecution, investigations are going on in most of these ones.
“What we have here is about 36 men and women engaged in various criminal activities ranging from murder, to anti grazing, stealing of motorcycles, stealing of grinding machine, stealing of keke napep, stealing of various houss household equipment, including generator, and armed robbery.
“Majority of these ones that we are parading today, having concluded the investigations, some of them will be going to court, early in the week next week. This is what we have been able to put together since last 3 weeks.
“The signal we are sending is that Ondo State a place where you can not thrive as a criminal, the criminals should better leave Ondo State, not only within the town, but within the forest.”