Following the recent rise in farmer-herder violence in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed the state security outfit, Amotekun, to establish forest rangers to put an end to the killings, abductions, and other crimes in the state.
The Commander of Amotekun in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, revealed to newsmen in Akure that the governor issued the directive to address the frequent killings of farmers by suspected herdsmen and to prevent kidnapping in border towns and roads within the state.
According to Adeleye, the establishment of the forest rangers will help flush out criminals from the forests and dismantle their camps.
He stated that “the establishment of the specialized unit within the Amotekun Corps, called ‘Amot Rangers,’ will rid the coastal state of criminal elements.
These rangers will operate from six newly established control points within the state’s forests, covering areas along the borders with Edo, Kogi, Kwara, and Ekiti states, and will live in the forests to manage the miscreants causing trouble in the state.
“We are carrying out the directives of the governor pursuant to the Ondo State Livestock and Grazing Regulations and the Establishment of Ranch Law 2021, as amended, which mandates the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, to oversee and enforce a peaceful relationship between farmers, herders, and forest inhabitants.
“In response to the governor’s directives, we are immediately establishing six major control points for a special unit of the Amotekun Corps, code-named ‘Amot Rangers.’ These control points will be strategically placed around the troubled borders with Edo, Kogi, Kwara, and Ekiti states.
In the past 72 hours, the Ondo State Security Network has combed every nook and cranny of the four local governments in Akoko and has successfully flushed out the miscreants. In fact, the miscreants fled before our team arrived, demonstrating that Ondo State is not a haven for terrorists or those with bad intentions.
“No matter how deep the forestry area, we remain resolute in ensuring the safety of lives and property. Consequently, the governor has graciously approved the reinforcement of two existing control posts in the forest and the establishment of four additional ones, making a total of six.
These will be manned by specially trained Amotekun Rangers whose sole responsibility is to curb the nefarious activities of these miscreants.
Regarding the anti-grazing and farmer-herder relationship, the commander said, “We face several challenges in enforcing the anti-open grazing law, but we are implementing measures to address these issues. Our ultimate goal is for farmers to work without fear while herders conduct their business without infringing on the rights of farmers.”
It should be noted that farmers in the Akoko area have faced abductions and killings, forcing many to abandon their farms. This situation led women from the affected communities to protest in the streets, demonstrating half-naked to express their discontent with the criminal activities in the area.
Adeleye, commenting on the arrest of some suspects in the state, mentioned that “the decline in the number of suspects paraded can largely be attributed to the 24-hour patrols by the Ondo State Security Network Agency. We have arrested three men who specialized in killing Okada riders after snatching their motorcycles. Additionally, two suspects who attempted to kill security personnel assigned to protect a petroleum product were apprehended. We have on display the guns they used before the long arm of the law caught up with them.”