Ilowa Gbade Village in Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State was thrown into tension following a brutal attack on a local farmer, John Akin, by suspected herders. The incident, which occurred while Akin was tending to his cassava farm, has heightened concerns over the rising insecurity in the region.
According to eyewitness accounts, Akin was working on his farm when a group of herders invaded with their cattle, allowing the animals to destroy his crops. When Akin confronted the herders and pleaded with them to remove their livestock, they became enraged and attacked him, severing two of his fingers in the process.
The violent altercation has sparked fear among residents of Ilowa Gbade, who have decried the continued invasion of their farms by herders. Community members lamented the repeated destruction of their livelihoods and the unchecked violence meted out to farmers who attempt to resist such invasions.
One of the suspected assailants was reportedly apprehended by locals and handed over to the Atiba Division of the Oyo State Police Command, where he is currently being interrogated. Meanwhile, residents remain on edge over reports of increasing incursions by terrorist elements, including members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), into the Old Oyo National Park and nearby forests.
The alarming security situation in Oyo State has prompted Governor Seyi Makinde to reiterate his administration’s commitment to combating the menace of herder-farmer conflicts and other criminal activities. In his monthly newsletter on Thursday, Makinde assured residents that the state government would not tolerate criminal elements, including errant herdsmen and bandits, migrating from the northern parts of the country into the South-West.
“One thing is certain, Oyo State will not welcome such criminals. We will push back to ensure that they are flushed out of our State. And so, our deliberation today (Thursday) was about the strategies we will deploy and the roles that we all should be playing to ensure that we continue to keep our dear State safe and secure,” the governor stated.
Makinde also highlighted the importance of sustaining peace in Oyo State, emphasizing that the relative security in the state has contributed to significant economic growth, with the state’s GDP increasing by over 50% since 2019.
As the state government and security agencies work towards addressing the crisis, affected farmers and community members continue to demand swift justice and stronger measures to prevent further attacks in the region.
