Ondo State government, community and the Police Command have differed on reported attack on four communities in Akure North local government area.
It was earlier reported that the armed herdsmen during a midnight attacks, sacked Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, Ademekun camp and Aba Alajido camps within Ala Elefosan in Akure north local government area.
While Government said no attack occurred, the police could only confirm attack on one community while affected community leader said there were casualties in the attacks.
Reacting, the State Government dismissed the report that four communities in Akure North local government area were attacked with 20 farmers killed.
The Government described the report as an absolute falsehood and attempt by sponsors of the fake news to create panic among residents.
The Government through the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters, Gbenga Atiba, in a statement, said “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious report being circulated by some section of the online media that armed herdsmen attacked communities in Ondo state and killed some farmers.
“We want to state categorically that this report is not only an absolute falsehood but an attempt by the sponsors of the fake news to create panic among the residents of the state.
“It is public knowledge that the government of Ondo state, efficiently-led by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, prioritises the security of lives and property of every resident of the state where they live, work and play.
“We, therefore, enjoin our people in the state to continue to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as the state government has created a peaceful and safe ambience for all and sundry.”
However, the Regent of one of the attacked communities, Ademekun Village, Princess Adelowo Adekemisola, expressed sadness over the killings of more than 14 farmers last weekend by the herdsmen who infiltrated the areas and started shooting sporadically.
The Regent, when narrating her experience, said that her community had been battling with the herdsmen problem without security actions.
According to her, the herdsmen came through the Edo-Ondo boundary to attack them.
The Regent of Ademekun Community, called on the State Government to protect her people.
In its reaction, the Ondo Police Command, in a statement on Monday night, confirmed attack at Sunday Camp, a settlement along the boundary of Ondo and Edo States, on March 8, 2025.
It, however, said it never confirmed the killing of 20 farmers in the attack on four communities.
According to spokesman, Funmilayo Odunlami, “the Command is aware of the attack on Sunday Camp and the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, has directed that the ongoing covert operation being carried out across the state to rid the command of bad elements be intensified.”
