Ajegunle Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State was thrown into mourning on Tuesday as suspected herdsmen reportedly killed five farmers in a violent attack.
The victims, identified as labourers from Plateau and Kaduna states, were working on farmlands when the assailants struck around 3:00 pm, witnesses said.
An eyewitness, who is also a farmer, recounted that the attackers had been consistently destroying crops and disrupting farming activities in the area. He lamented that similar attacks have become a recurring threat, forcing many farmers to abandon their farmlands for fear of being killed.
The witness further revealed that aside from the killings, female farmers in the community have also suffered occasional assaults, including rape.
A survivor of the attack disclosed that the armed men stormed the area suddenly and began shooting indiscriminately, leading to the death of five individuals.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, stated that security operatives were still investigating the case. She, however, did not confirm the exact number of casualties.
Residents of the community have called for urgent intervention by security agencies to prevent further loss of lives and destruction of farmlands.
