Many Injured in Clash Between Herders and Amotekun Operatives in Ondo

NIGERIA NEWS 247 reports that the attack occurred while Amotekun operatives were enforcing the state’s anti-open grazing law. During the clash, some operatives were severely injured with machetes, causing vehicular movement along the Ado-Akure road to halt for several hours.

The operatives responded to a distress call from local farmers whose farmlands and crops were being destroyed by cattle. The late governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, signed the anti-open grazing bill into law on August 13, 2021, prohibiting open grazing across the state.

Jimoh Adeniken, the Public Relations Officer of the Amotekun Corps, confirmed the incident, noting that the operatives showed courage and determination in de-escalating the volatile situation despite the violent assault.

“During the operation, the corps surveillance team, guided by the farmers, discovered over one hundred and twenty cows ravaging the farms with no herders in sight. Determined to enforce the anti-open grazing law, the Amotekun operatives moved the cows out of the farms. However, while passing through the Sango Area at Igoba along Ado Road in Akure, they were attacked by armed Fulani herdsmen wielding stones, bottles, cutlasses, and guns.

“Following orders from the state headquarters, the corps retreated. The assailants continued to throw stones and bottles, eventually invading the main road and severely injuring one Amotekun officer while trying to disarm the operatives. In response, the Amotekun officers fired shots into the air to disperse the attackers and return to their office.”