In Ondo: Community seizes 150 cows for destroying farmlands

The Ijare community in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Wednesday, seized about 150 cows for destroying crops on farmlands in the area.

This came few months after lightning struck dead 36 cows belonging to Fulani herdsmen while grazing on a sacred land in the community.

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It was gathered that the seized cows were led to the farmlands by some Fulani herdsmen to graze and destroyed crops planted on the farmlands.

A source in the community said when the farmers saw the havoc wreaked by the cows on their farms, they pursued them and seized the cows, while the herdsmen fled.

One of the affected farmers, Mr Sunday Fasakin, who lamented that his efforts last year had come to naught, recounted how his three-hectare cocoyam and yam plantations were destroyed by the herdsmen and their cattle.

Fasakin also called on the government to address the problem to avoid reprisal by the residents of the community.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Femi Joseph, said one of the herders had been arrested, while investigation had commenced into the matter.

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Similarly, the traditional ruler of Ipinsa in the Akure South Local Government Area of the state, Oba Omoniyi Olufunmilayo, has raised the alarm over the invasion of farmlands and destruction of crops in his community by suspected herdsmen.

The monarch lamented that many farmers were counting their losses over the destruction of their farmlands allegedly by the herdsmen.

He called on the state government and security agents to intervene in the matter to avoid a clash between the farmers and the herdsmen. Punch