The Ondo State capital was thrown into chaos on Tuesday as enraged protesters blocked major roads in Alagbaka, including the axis stretching from the Governor’s Office to Shoprite, using the corpses of four slain farmers.
The chilling protest followed the brutal killing of the farmers in the early hours of the morning at the 13-13 Farming Settlement, located in the Ajagbusi area of Ala Elefosan, Akure North Local Government Area. The victims were reportedly attacked while on their way to their farms.
Eyewitnesses said the protesters, made up of local farmers, residents, and youths, carried the bodies to the city center in a desperate attempt to draw government attention to the worsening insecurity in rural communities.
Tuesday’s incident adds to a rising wave of violence in the state, with over 20 farmers reportedly killed by suspected herders in the last one month alone, according to local sources. The surge in attacks has left many communities in fear and despair, with little confidence in the protection offered by security agencies.
Chanting slogans and carrying placards, the protesters demanded urgent intervention from the state government and security agencies, calling for justice for the victims and the arrest of those responsible.
“We can’t continue to die in silence. Our people are being slaughtered like animals, and no one is doing anything,” one of the protesters said. “We demand action now.”
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the Ondo State Government. However, security operatives were later deployed to the scene to restore order and disperse the protesters peacefully.
The incident has reignited debates about the safety of farmers and the need for stronger government action to address conflicts between herders and rural communities.
