Cleric laments activities of herdsmen in Ekiti, warns govt against playing politics with security

The founder and presiding cleric of the Home of Religion Christian Church Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State, Rev Tunde Afe has raised an alarm over the invasion and destruction of farms by suspected Fulani herdsmen within the state.

Afe who warned authorities officers in opposition to taking part in politics with the safety state of affairs, maintained that Fulani herders invaded his non-public farms too.

There had been experiences of the destruction of a multi-million naira maize farm belonging to members of the Maize Grower Processing Marketer Affiliation of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) in Aduloju farmstead situated alongside Ado-Ijan highway within the state capital by herdsmen.

However the Commissioner for Agriculture within the state, Dr Olabode Olatoyi was quoted as saying on Wednesday that there was no farm destroyed by herdsmen within the state.

Nonetheless, in a swift response, the cleric in a press release on Thursday faulted the claims by the Commissioner, noting that his cassava farm was destroyed by herdsmen final week in Itapaji, Ikole native authorities space of the state.

Afe, a former governorship candidate within the state cautioned leaders who play politics with the safety state of affairs within the state, including that the lives and property of residents must be the precedence of presidency in any respect ranges.

He stated “It’s fallacious for some individuals to say “No single farm has been destroyed in Ekiti by Fulani herdsmen” Please don’t play politics with this ISSUE. These herdsmen destroy farms in Ekiti day by day. For instance, a bit of my cassava farm at Itapaji Ekiti was eaten up by cows final week.

“Farmers have stopped reporting to police as a result of nothing got here out of all of the experiences made to this point. These Fulani herdsmen are in Ekiti doing loads of havoc. That is the third time they’re destroying my farm.

“Cease taking part in politics with this matter.”

When contacted, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Olatoyi stated the federal government would make its place identified to the general public on the incident on Friday.

“We’ll make our place identified on the incident tomorrow after our safety assembly. I’ve been on the farm,” he stated.