On Tuesday, protesters flooded the streets of Akure, the capital of Ondo State, in response to the recent killings of farmers by suspected herdsmen in the Akure North Local Government Area. The victims, killed in the early hours while heading to their farm in the 13/13 farming settlement in the Ajagbusi area, were mourned by angry youths and colleagues of the deceased.
The protesters, frustrated by the government’s lack of action on the rising insecurity, brought the bodies of the slain farmers to the state secretariat in Alagbaka, demanding justice. This latest incident follows the killing of five farmers a few weeks ago, which also sparked a massive protest.
The protesters condemned the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, accusing him of failing to address the worsening security situation, contrasting it with the administration of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, when such violence was less frequent. Tensions escalated as the protesters barricaded key intersections, halting traffic to the Governor’s Office and the federal secretariat, with security forces later dispersing the crowd.
Traditional ruler Taiwo Samuel, representing the Adeshina community, voiced his outrage, describing the killings as “too many.” He stressed that while Governor Aiyedatiwa had promised increased security after a previous attack, the situation had only worsened. He called on the government to allow the community to secure itself and lamented the growing fear among residents, stating that the community could no longer live in peace.
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