February 9, 2024
Some residents of Ogbomoso, including farmers stormed the Palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland to protest invasion of their farmland by suspected herders in Oriire local government area, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
According to them, the invasion resulted in the death of innocent farmers while crops worth millions were destroyed.
A cleric Evangelist Segun Adegboyega was killed while working on his farmland at Gege village along Ogbomoso-Iseyin road last month.
The residents, who were disturbed by the trend in their hundreds took the peaceful protest to the palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye at Oja-gbo area.
They demanded swift intervention of the monarch at putting an end to the killings, maiming and destruction of the crops on their farmlands by the suspected herders.
They added that they have been deprived access to their farmland.
They protesters said: “We are tired of the atrocities of these Bororo herdsmen. They destroy our farms, kill our people, machete us, slash off our hands and act as if we are their slaves.
“They even rape women in the farm. Now, we can’t go to our farms again and we are hungry.”
The spokesperson for the group, Chief Aremu Ogundare, said they came from three villages of Kedo Arigbeyo, Kedo Salami and Mosunmaje in Orire Local Government Area.
Oba Olaoye promised to work with security agents to get justice for the family of the deceased.
The monarch said: “As your father, I wish to say, this is an ugly situation and it is uncalled for. I have spoken my mind to the Area Commander of Owode Police headquarters, who is here with me and I want to assure you that justice would be served.
“I equally sympathise with every one of you, may God continue to watch over you and the entire land of Ogbomoso.”
– agency report
