Several people, including officers of the Ondo State Security Network, otherwise called Amotekun, have sustained injuries following an attack by herdsmen in Akure North Local Government Area.
The clash broke out as Amotekun personnel attempted to enforce the anti-open grazing law in Igoba, a community on Ado Road.
However, Fulani herdsmen, grazing their cattle on local farms, launched an assault with guns, bottles, cutlasses and stones, against the officers.
Jimoh Adeniken, spokesperson for the Ondo Amotekun Corps, stated that the corps’ surveillance team was led to the affected farms by the owners.
While trying to drive away 120 unaccompanied cows destroying farmers’ crops, the operatives were attacked by the herders.
He said: “The assailants continued to throw stones and bottles till they invaded the main road and hacked one of the Amotekun officers into a coma even as they attempted to disarm officers and men of the Amotekun corps.
“Other officers sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack and they are currently receiving medical attention. The owner of the cows has been identified while investigation by the corps continues.
“Government will continue to ensure strict compliance with the law with a view to ensuring that efforts of farmers would not be truncated through destruction of their farmlands by herders and their cows.
“Officers of the corps will continue to carry out its legal functions of protecting the people of the state as well as their property.”
