Herdsmen convert Ondo govt forest reserve into militia camp – TheNigerialawyer

Fresh facts emerged on Saturday that herdsmen have converted the
Ondo Government reserve located in the Odigbo Local Government Area
into a militia camp, Punch report.

This indication buttressed the widespread claim that killers of
Mrs Funke Olakunrin, 58-year-old daughter of the leader of
pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Chief Reuben
Fasoranti, were herdsmen who sneaked out of the reserve to rain
bullets on the vehicle she was travelling in.

Olakunrin was killed on Friday as the gunmen ambushed vehicles
on the highway and abducted some commuters. Her maid reportedly
sustained some gunshot injuries during the attack.

Killers of Fasoranti’s daughter have their base in the forest,
say villagers

A former senator who represented Ondo South Senatorial District
at the Senate, Boluwaji Kunlere, said hoodlums had been operating
around where Olakunrin was killed for a long time.

He said this in an interview with one of our correspondents in
Lagos on Saturday.

Kunlere said, “I beefed up security in the area when I was in
the Senate. I gave 13 Hilux vans to the police divisions in Ondo
South Senatorial District and gave motorcycles to the Department of
State Services for surveillance.

“I think the police do not have the manpower to ensure adequate
security in the area. The expressway (Benin-Ore-Sagamu Expressway)
is where the major problem is. The spot (Kajola) where they killed
Baba Fasoranti’s daughter falls between Odigbo and Okitipupa Local
Government territory.

“The people living close to the area said Fulani herdsmen had
taken over that area and there was a time a bishop was abducted and
the police rescued him in that area. Herdsmen are all over the
forest. We see them between Omotosho and Igbotako. They graze their
cows on the road and strike and they run back to the bush.

“They have been operating there for long but the attack on Baba
Fasoranti’s daughter was given a wide publicity because of the
man’s influence. The downtrodden have been suffering there for
long. There was a time that they exchanged gunfire with the police
between Omotosho and Ore in the afternoon and they ran away when
they discovered that the police would overpower them.

“When they attacked Chief Olu Falae’s farm then, the police said
it was bush burning because of the fear of Abuja. They want to
attribute this killing to armed robbers but the locals are saying
the killers are herdsmen.”

Some residents of Kajola town in the Odigbo council area who
spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH insisted that some Fulani herdsmen
terrorising the area were residing in the forest in the area.

One of the residents identified only as Mr Ola said the herdsmen
behaved as if they were above the law, adding that it was not the
first time they would perpetrate the act in the area.

He said, “They destroy our farms at will. Their cows always eat
up many of our farm produce. We have reported several times to the
police but no action was taken. We heard gunshots yesterday
(Friday) and it is a common thing in the area. We call on the
government to provide adequate security to protect our lives and
property.’’

Also, a farmer in Kajola village who gave his name only as Mr
Aliu, also said bandits had invaded forests surrounding the
village.

He said there had been many criminal activities going on in the
forest and nobody stopped them.

Aliu said, “The herdsmen that struck on the expressway yesterday
(Friday) stay in the forest around the area. That is not their
first time and that is how they operate. We have reported to
security agents but nothing has been done about it. We are
helpless. Government should come to our aid.”

Another resident who spoke on condition of anonymity also
reiterated that the reserve in the Odigbo council area had been
inhabited for long by herdsmen.

He said though the reserve belonged to the government, community
members now use the place for farming.

The resident, who is a prominent member of the National
Association of Odigbo Local Government Students, said herdsmen
rampage started in the area at the same time it became rampant in
the country.

He said, “Villagers are aware of the activities of herdsmen in
the area. There was a time herdsmen cut the wrist of a farmer who
confronted them when they took their cows for grazing on his
farm.

“The DPO of Ore Police Station intervened in the matter and
spoke with members of the community. The vigilantes have had to
confront them many times. The vigilantes later constructed a shed
in the community and take turns to ensure security in the area.
This is a development that is known to people in the
community.’’

It’s a lie, herdsmen are not in reserve –State govt,
Ondo CP

However, the Ondo State Government has denied that some killer
herdsmen had taken over its forest reserves.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, said the
government had invested much on the security in the state.

He added that though intelligence report could not be revealed
to the public, government investment on security had been yielding
good result.

He said, “It’s not a thing of excitement for the government to
divulge to the public measures being put in place to tackle this
menace. There are no killer herdsmen residing in our forest
reserves.

“As you know, insecurity is almost a nationwide issue that
requires everything to curb it. On our part in Ondo State, a lot of
investments have been made in this regard. All the same, such are
not for the public. It will, therefore, be unfair for anyone to
conclude that nothing has been done to checkmate the menace. As you
are aware, we have our limitations, but those limitations will not
be allowed to discourage us from doing what is appropriate at all
times.”

Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Police Undie Adie, said
he was not aware of gunmen in the state.

He urged residents to provide useful tips on the gunmen and
their activities, promising to act on them immediately.

Adie said, “The person with that information should make it
available to me right away. We appreciate useful information from
anywhere it comes, once it is credible, we would act on it.”

On her part, the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the Odigbo
council, Mrs Margaret Akinsuroju, said she was new in the local
government but ready to assist security agents in their efforts to
make the local government free of bandits.

She said, “I am just two weeks in the council. I am not aware of
bandits taking over our forest reserve but as I speak to you, the
security agents are working tirelessly to flush criminals out of
the area. I will like the traditional rulers and the people to
support them by giving them useful information that will lead to
the arrest of the bandits.”

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