Former Vice Chairman South-West of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, has heaped praises on the Governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu over the establishment of Amotekun in the south west states.
He gave the commendation at the Amotekun Corps Headquarters in Akure, when he came to lodge a complaint about suspected Herders who destroyed his 10.2 million worth of farm land at Owena Dam at Igaba-Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.
“For the fact that the tension was brought to this level, I am very grateful. I now know the real significant of the creation of Amotekun.
“As long as i am at the public space, I will do everything to continue to support the existence of Amotekun and I want to seize this opportunity to thank the Akeredolu-led administration for providing adequate security for people of the state through this security outfit.
“I thank him for his leadership role among the southwest states in ensuring that we lives of people of the region is adequately secured.
“I wrote a petition to the Government of Ondo state and Commander of the Ondo state Security Network Agency about my farm that was destroyed in Igbara-Oke which was about 30 hectares and I was marveled at the Amotekun Corps’ immediate reaction. They swung into action without delay.
“Suspects were arrested and they did everything to ensure that peace returned. We don’t want anybody to die . We want to feed our family, we want to make sure we do the things that will bring our family together.
“To all my brothers here, we are not enemies. We are all Nigerians, you have the freedom to walk into our land to do whatever you want lawfully, he said.”
Responding, Ondo State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, reiterated his warning to owners of the cows and cattles to ensure they adhere to the anti-open grazing law of the state.
According to him, “We moved in after the complain of Chief Olafeso indicating that his farm was destroyed around Igbara-Oke Dam and it took us lots of stress to apprehend the culprits that were responsible for the destruction.
“Two of the owners of the farms were invited to discuss on the way forward and to ensure that the herdsmen did not contravene the anti-open grazing law of the State.
“When we get such people, we put them on the line of prosecution. Despite that, the government is gracious enough to open the window of option of fine which they chose rather than going to court.
“On the other hand, we encouraged owners of the farms to negotiate on thier own with the herdsmen and the two owners have met and agreed to settle out of court.
“But my advice beyond the payment and my directive is that, henceforth, cows and cattles should not come around the Owena Dan and within the state anymore.
” Like I have always said, wanton destruction of farmland and crops will not be tolerated as stiff penalty awaits culprits.
Akogun Adeleye who is also Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Security Matters, revealed, that owners of the cattle have plead with the Ondo state government that they don’t want to go to court and agreed to compensate owners of the farm with a promise in writing, that they will not come near the Dam to destroy farmlands again.
“My advice to herders generally is to completely desist from destroying crops and farmlands within the state, otherwise they will be made to face the full wrath of the law as stipulated in the Anti Open grazing law of Ondo state”, he warned.
Reacting, Seriki Hausa of Shasha market. Alhaji Ibrahim Sheu pleaded on behalf of the herders and promised that such would not happen again and assured, that all herders around the area and Ondo state as a whole will adhere strictly with the Anti-open grazing law of the state.
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