• Residents dazed as govt, police differ on attack
Tears, sorrow, and blood were the grim symbols of life in some communities in Akure North Local Council following an attack by suspected armed herdsmen, which left scores of farmers dead and many others injured.

The Guardian gathered that armed bandits stormed the communities, unleashed terror on unsuspecting farmers in the midnight of Saturday.

These communities identified as Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, Ademekun Camp and Aba Alajido Camp within Ala Elefosan, are farming settlements in one of the state’s agrarian belts.

Sources in the communities that share borders with Edo State, lamented that the death toll from the attack was more than 20, as the bandits shot sporadically in all angles while they were fast asleep.

Describing the assailants as heavily armed and ruthless, the Regent of Ademekun Community, Princess Adelowo Adekemisola, explained that the armed herders spared neither lives nor property, leaving behind a trail of destruction and grief.

She stated that 16 bodies had so far been retrieved from her community, which had been moved to the mortuary.

Adekemisola, however, revealed that the armed herders came to the communities for a reprisal attack following the killing of over 50 cows by some outsiders who are not from the community.

She said: “When I was out of the community, I was called and informed that someone named ‘Iron Body’, and some boys came to the community on Thursday.

“He introduced his team as Commissioner’s Boys. When he was confronted regarding his mission, he said that he only came to seek their collaboration on how to prevent Fulani herdsmen and their cattle from the community.

“My people told him to wait until I return. But a few minutes later, the same Iron Body went to the next community and began to fire gunshots and killed about a hundred cows. We became scared over the development.

“It was at midnight on Saturday that Fulani herdsmen invaded the communities and began shooting and attacking anyone on sight in retaliation for the cows that were killed.

“They thought we were the ones that killed their cows. Most of those killed were from Taraba and Oyo states who are farming in the communities. They didn’t spare anyone; they killed both old and young, and they also set buildings on fire.”

For the surviving farmers, life has become a nightmare as many of them fled the affected settlements, abandoning their farms and livelihoods for fear of further attacks.

One of the affected farmers, who narrowly escaped the attack, said: “We are under siege. They killed, destroyed and left us with nothing. We can no longer go to our farms. How are we supposed to feed our families?”

Meanwhile, the state government debunked the attack, stating that it never happened.

The government stressed that it was fake news.

While speaking through the Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters, Olugbenga Atiba, on a radio programme, the government blamed the people for being lackadaisical in the issue of security.

He said: “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.

“For the umpteenth time, we advise the purveyors of this hoax to desist from such an act that is capable of creating chaos, disunity and distrust between the people and the government.

“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 police command in the state confirmed the attack but failed to put a figure to the number of casualties recorded.

According to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the command is aware of the attack on Sunday Camp, and the Commissioner of Police, 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.

“For the record, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ala received information regarding an attack at Sunday Camp, a settlement along the boundary of Ondo and Edo states, on March 8, 2025.

“However, the Police Command never confirmed the killing of 20 farmers, as reported.”