Fear and uncertainty have enveloped the Akoko region of Ondo State after the brutal murder of another farmer, further intensifying concerns over the persistent violence attributed to herdsmen.
The most recent tragedy unfolded on Tuesday in Ifira Akoko, located within Akoko South-East Local Government Area, heightening alarm among residents who now live in fear for their safety and the security of their farms.
The victim, 18-year-old Joshua Gbolahan, a native of Odoro Quarters in Ifira, was found dead in his farmland within Ogudu Farm Settlement.
According to local reports, he was violently attacked and murdered by yet-to-be-identified assailants, suspected to be herdsmen, leaving the community in deep shock and grief.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that Gbolahan’s body was discovered by officers from Isua Akoko and has since been taken to the morgue at Ipe Akoko General Hospital.
At the time of this report, security personnel—including a joint team of police officers and operatives from the Amotekun Corps—are actively searching the surrounding forests for clues to apprehend the perpetrators.
This killing marks the second such incident in just one week, following the tragic death of 36-year-old Sunday Ayeni in Uba Oka, Akoko South-West Local Government Area. Ayeni’s murder, also believed to be the work of herdsmen, has fueled widespread fear among local farmers, many of whom are now reluctant to tend to their fields.
In response to the rising insecurity, local leaders and traditional rulers have convened emergency meetings to address the worsening situation. His Royal Majesty, Oba Victor Adetona Olasehinde, the Owa of Ogbagi Akoko and Chairman of the Akoko Divisional Council of Obas, strongly condemned the violence, describing it as “inhumane and intolerable.”
Oba Adetona expressed his deep concern over the unchecked activities of herdsmen, warning that their actions are driving farmers away from their lands and posing a serious threat to the region’s agricultural output.
He urged the government and security agencies to redouble their efforts to restore peace to Akoko, emphasizing that further loss of lives and livelihoods could have devastating consequences if the violence is not swiftly brought under control.