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The Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) has declared that the issue of farmer-herder clashes, once a significant security concern in the state, has been fully addressed.
Revealing that the strategy employed by the corps played a pivotal role in curbing the menace, the commander of Amotekun in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, emphasised that the conflict had been one of the greatest challenges faced by the security outfit.
According to Adeleye, within three years of Amotekun’s operations in the state, 170 herders who violated the anti-open grazing law were arrested, while 10,000 cows were impounded.
Read Also: Herdsmen Killings: Ohanaeze Fumes Over Summon Of Enugu LG Boss
Adeleye noted that the conflicts, which had previously centered around farmlands and grazing areas, had resulted in both loss of life and economic setbacks. He added that the situation had forced many farmers to abandon their land out of fear of abduction or death.
He further stated that the enforcement of the anti-open grazing law had been instrumental in curtailing the activities of herders. Public sensitisation efforts, he explained, also contributed significantly to the cessation of clashes and helped reduce food insecurity in the state.
He said, “We started with mass education for both herders and farmers, explaining the limitations of each group. The government wanted people to go back to farm. We were able to restore normalcy within a year, though it was very difficult.”
In other news, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing has condemned the alleged summon of the Uzo-Uwani local government chairman, Mr Chijioke Ezugwu by the Enugu State police command.
The group said should the harassment of the LG chairman continue, it would be left with no option than to mobilize the Igbo youths for a mother of all protests.
The Eastern Updates reports that rampaging herdsmen have killed scores of people in Uzo-Uwani in the past weeks, leading to the strengthening of internal security to safeguard the residents.
However, according to SaharaReporters, the council boss was summoned, alongside the vigilante group, to the state police command headquarters.
