Some villagers in Ondo State have begun to flee their homes, following incessant attacks suffered from the herdsmen-cum-bandits’ invasion.
This has become the fate of residents in some villages in the state after longtime reported cases of attacks, kidnappings and sometimes – killings, which have continued to disrupt business activities, undermine food security, displace a large number of inhabitants, and also cast heavy doubt on the safety of lives and property.
Research has shown that over 4,000 farmers have been killed in the South Western part of Nigeria from 2015 to date.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, Nigeria has lost not less than 8,343 persons to the farmers-herders conflict since 2005.
This rising invasion of herders in the Southwest region subsequently led the governors in the six South-West states, with ranking traditional rulers, to form the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed ‘Amotekun’ on January 9, 2020.
Despite the support from the state governments, the regional security outfit has continued to struggle to maintain and counter persistent attacks from the herdsmen.
Some residents have raised concerns about the wherewithal of the Amotekun corps to overpower and take control of the areas that have become dominated by the herdsmen.
Following investigations by The PUNCH, a resident who gave her name as Tinu said she stays in Akoko but visits Ifon often and that it is always a scary journey to embark on.
“I live after Arigidi Akoko but I often commute on the road that leads to Ifon. I have a friend I visit regularly. That road is now lonely, Amotekun men have practically been overpowered in that place because it’s like the epicentre of herdsmen. They sacked an entire community,” she said.