Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has vowed to arrest and punish the criminal suspected Fulani herdsmen who killed three persons, ransacked and burnt many buildings at Molege community of Ose local government, the popular and most thriving yams depot of the state on Thursday.
He spoke the vow on Sunday during his visit to the community to commiserate with the people and ascertain the extent of the destruction, vowing: ”I commiserate with you on the death of your loved ones. May their souls Rest In Peace. No government will be happy with this kind of development.
“But you have to be prepared. These herdsmen are becoming too problematic. We are not sleeping. You can see Police and Amotekun here. With this one they have done, we will ensure that it is their last evil act here.
“Those behind this are criminals. Those supporting them are all criminals too. Anyone who commits crime will answer for it. The Police and Amotekun with other security agencies will set out and bring them to justice. We will treat them like criminals.
“Both the Police and Amotekun have briefed me that they were being shot at. But for their boldness and courage, the criminals would have overwhelmed them.
“I want to assure you, don’t be scared. We are still on their track. They have ran to Edo now. But for the houses that were raised down, government will bring relieve material. We will rebuild the ones that were razed completely.”
Akeredolu, who was accompanied to the scene by the state police boss, police, Mr Oyediran Oyeyemi; Amotekun Corps commander, Tunji Adeleye; and some members of the state executive council, commiserated with the people over the death of their loved ones, particularly the community head, noting that no government would be happy with the killings of the people.
He described the attack on the community as unfortunate, vowing that concerted efforts will be made to ensure that such attack does not reoccur in the state.
Earlier, the Akarigbo of Ute Land, Chief Felix Olabode, narrated how the ugly incident happened, saying:”I was home when we heard that some gunmen came and killed people here. We came here immediately and we met a dead body. These buildings had not been razed.
“When we alerted the Police, the DPO came and we didn’t know that those people were still around. Not less than 30 minutes after the Police evacuated the dead bodies, the gunmen came back and razed these buildings down.
“They always use guns to scare people away here and then brought their cows to graze on people’s farm and drink water. When they are leaving too, they also use guns to scare people away and leave. We have seen the level of damage here. People have left here. We are begging the government to come to our rescue.”
Also, Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the area, Folorunso Olofe disclosed that the gunmen were always attacking with AK 47.
He said: “This has been happening for long. They are always coming with AK 47; they were more than 50. One Amotekun officer was hit with a bullet during the attack. They came and killed the Baale. Police came and evacuated the dead bodies and not up to fifteen minutes, they came back and razed this place.”
On their own, the villagers said the gunmen attacked the community, following the refusal of the residents to allow the herdsmen to graze on their farms.
Following the attack and killing of three persons on Thursday evening by suspected criminal herders, the state police boss had ordered the immediate deployment of men of the Special Squads to Molege Village.
Many houses were razed overnight by the rampaging herders, who were reportedly irked that the villagers prevented their cows from feeding on their farmlands.
The police commissioner who was on the spot assessment to ascertain the level of damage caused in the area, had directed his men to ensure the protection of lives and property in the community.
He had allayed their fears and vowed to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the evil act accordingly.
Besides, he had enjoined the people to give the Police genuine information that will help reduce crime to the barest minimum in the State.
The villagers had fled while their kinsmen were being killed and properties were being destroyed by the rampaging herdsmen.
Reacting to the incident in a statement, the state Commander Amotekun, Chief Adeleye Adetunji, had said that “while on a routine patrol today (Thursday January 6) at Molege in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State our men were informed that some nearby villages in Molege have been taken over by herdsmen while the burnt down some people’s properties.
“We moved in with three patrol vehicles and took control of the situation in the village.
“On their way back, some men suspected to be herdsmen suddenly open fire on our men in an unprovoked attack because Amotekun does not want to start shooting people.
“We are trying to find out who they are as an adequate investigation is ongoing.
“We urged the people of the community to come back to their homes as peace has returned back to the village.
Adetunji was however silent on the casualties recorded during the forceful invasion of the village by the herders.
Fear has however gripped the council area following reports that the herdsmen have perfected plans to invade and overrun other villages and camps overnight.
