Tension escalated in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday as farmers took to the streets to protest the alleged killing of five people by suspected herdsmen at Aba Oyinbo community in Akure North Local Government Area.
According to reports, the attackers stormed the community in the early hours of Wednesday, opening fire on the victims.
The latest incident comes just two weeks after gunmen reportedly killed at least 14 people across four communities—Ademekun, Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, and Alajido—all within the same local government area.
Angered by the continued violence, protesters gathered in large numbers at the Governor’s Office, chanting solidarity songs and demanding urgent intervention from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to put an end to the relentless attacks on farmers.
One of the protesters, identified as Jonah, expressed frustration over the rising death toll, alleging that the assailants infiltrated the state from Edo.
“We are being slaughtered without anyone doing anything. Akure North is under siege. We are farmers, not criminals. We are appealing to the governor, the police, the army, and Amotekun to save us before more lives are lost,” Jonah lamented.
Security operatives have since been deployed to the protest site to maintain order and prevent any escalation of violence.
