SaharaReporters reports that about eight persons were killed in Arimogija and Omolege, both in same Ose LGA by gunmen in the last one week.
Following the reported killing of indigenes of Ose Local Government Area by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the Ondo State Government has warned the people against taking laws into their hands.
SaharaReporters reports that about eight persons were killed in Arimogija and Omolege, both in same Ose LGA by gunmen in the last one week.
Some youths and other stakeholders in the communities had also warned that they might resort to self-help in defending themselves against killer herdsmen.
But the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo in a statement titled “Self-help Unhelpful, Report Any Invasion Of Farmlands To The Police, Civil Defence, Amotekun, Others” asked the people to allow the security agencies to handle the situation.
The statement read, “Residents in the state, especially farmers, are enjoined to report any invasion of farmlands and unauthorised grazing to the Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, South West Security Network (Amotekun) and other security agencies. None is permitted to resort to self-help.
“This reinforced directive, which is the outcome of the State Security Council meeting is pertinent following renewed hostilities between farmers and herders resulting in casualties in some boundary towns between Ondo and Edo states. Undoubtedly, the latest killings are barbaric and condemnable even as efforts have been deepened to apprehend the culprits through inter-state co-operation and synergy.
“Government, however, believes strongly that such situations are avoidable if security agencies are always afforded the opportunity to intervene before the escalation of violence. Residents are, therefore, urged to abide by this directive and trust in the capacity of our security agencies to enforce to the fullest, provisions of the Anti-open Grazing Law that is in operation in the state.
“Henceforth, any confirmed report of self-help that impairs the operations of security agencies shall be viewed as unhelpful to government's efforts at any given instance.”