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Residents of Idofin Ehin Afo community, Oke Ero Local Government, Kwara State, have raised the alarm over persistent incursions on their farmlands by men suspected to be bandits.
The community has therefore called on the state government and security agencies for urgent intervention.
The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Kazum Oyelowo Julius, appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to come to the aid of his people, lamenting that insecurity has crippled farming activities and disrupted the ongoing harvest season.
Speaking in an interview with the media, the monarch said farmers have abandoned their farmlands out of fear, as bandits now operate freely in the area.
According to Oba Oyelowo, the security challenge began about two years ago:“For the past two years, my community, Idofin Ehin Afo, has been experiencing incursions by bandits,who raid our farmlands. This year, the situation has become more rampant. They invaded our community, killed two persons, and kidnapped eight others. This also led to clashes between our people and Bororo herdsmen.”
He explained that after the attackers were initially repelled, they regrouped and moved deeper into farmlands located at Bodo Adamu Aba Ologede, forcefully displacing farmers,who had cultivated the area for decades.
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The monarch further revealed that the bandits resurfaced during the harvest period, imposing levies of between ₦2 million and ₦10 million on farmers before allowing them to harvest their crops.
“When some of the farmers resisted these illegal levies, they were attacked. Two more people were killed and eight kidnapped.As we speak, displaced farmers and their families are taking refuge in our community.”
On efforts made so far, the traditional ruler disclosed that the matter had been reported to the Chairman of Oke Ero Local Government,Hon. James Fadipe, but relief has not yet come.
With fear spreading and livelihoods at risk, the community is now making a renewed appeal to the state government and security agencies.
“We are appealing to the Governor of Kwara State to urgently come to our aid. We also call on the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, to help protect lives and property in the affected communities.”
For the people of Idofin Ehin Afo, the land that once promised sustenance has become a landscape of fear—one,where the silence of abandoned farms speaks louder than words and where timely intervention may yet restore hope.
