- Insecurity: 20 commercial motorcyclists killed Ondo —Amotekun boss
BY JAMES AKINOLA
Gunmen have attacked and destroyed farm settlements at Oluwa Forest Reserve, in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The gunmen allegedly invaded the settlement and destroyed the cocoa plantations in Temidire.
Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the state capital, the farmers said that the armed men, who invaded their farms shot sporadically into the air to scare them away.
The chairman of the farmers, Abayomi lsinleye, said that one of the invaders was apprehended and handed him over to Police Area Command in Ore.
Isinleye alleged that the gunmen were sent by SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, the company to which the state government allotted their cocoa farm to.
According to him, “Despite a court order restraining the Agro-Allied Company from taking over the land until the determination of the suit instituted by the farmers, the firm has continued to clear the plantations.”
He recalled that the existing interim injunction which was granted by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye of Ondo State High Court sitting in Ondo, restrained all respondents in the suit, including SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, to stop bulldozing the farmers’ cocoa plantations.
The chairman said that the operator of the bulldozer, who demanded for the court ruling when confronted by the farmers, urged the farmers to contact the management of SAO Agro-Allied Services before they could leave the farmlands.
According to him some of them had to struggle with the gunmen and were able to snatch two guns, a pump action and an air rifle, and one of the armed men was apprehended and taken to police station.
Call perpetrators to order, counsel tells Akeredolu
Also, speaking, their lawyer, Tope Temokun, called on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, to “call whoever was in charge of SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited to order to save the state from this anarchy of profit-drive by a private company, which has shown over desperation in dislodging the farmers from their farmlands at all costs, in disregard of order of court and pendency of suit.”
One suspect arrested —Police
Meanwhile, the State Police Command, when contacted, confirmed the development and arrest of a suspect.
The state commands spokesperson Funmi Odunlami, said: “The two parties had been invited by the Area Commander in Ore to know the true position of things as investigation is still ongoing on the matter.”
Insecurity: 20 commercial motorcyclists killed in Ondo —Amotekun boss
In a related development, no fewer than 20 commercial motorcyclists have been killed and their motorcycles stolen within three weeks, across the state of Ondo.
It’s commander of the Ondo State security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, who expressed worry over the ugly development, said it was rampant in Akure, the state capital.
Adeleye, who reiterated the security outfit’s determination to reduce all acts of criminal activities to the barest minimum during the yuletide season, advised against riding motorcycles at night.
He said: “The ban of commercial motorcycles from 6p.m., to 6a.m., remained as put in place by the government but will not affect motorcycles on essential duties.”
According to him, “20 cases of commercial motorcyclists killed and their motorcycles stolen was recorded in the last three weeks, hence it is risky to ride motorcycles in the night.
“We want to appeal to commercial motorcyclists to rest if they work for 12 hours, so that we can identify the criminal entities.
“It is also no longer permitted for vehicles to ply the road without registration numbers, and all vehicles with tinted glass should obtain Police permit for them.
“Dealers should use dealer numbers, not stickers because all vehicles with stickers only will be impounded. These are some measures we put in place to guarantee safety of lives and property in Ondo State.”
Adeleye, who paraded 11 criminal suspects, arrested with locally-made weapons, said that the corp had commenced 2023/2024 Ember Border Patrol activities.
According to him, “Some of the weapons, were cut to size or longe range, and this development is seen as their way of preparing to destabilise innocent residents and commuters in Ondo State.
“We are determined to make their act impossible and we are sending this message to them and anybody planning to forment trouble during this yuletide, that it is not business as usual again.
“Our men will be deployed in all black spots that have been observed in Ondo State, especially Akure. Our patrol vehicles will be in 24 hour basis throughout this period.
“In collaboration with other security agencies, we are determined to reduce to the barest minimum all acts of criminal activities ranging from kidnapping, shop or house breaking.”
The commander recalled that last year, “We were able to rescue over 100 kidnapped or robbed people, but for this year’s patrol, we are ready to do more and we thank the people and ask for more support this year.”
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2023-11-02
