A farmer and owner of MAO Organic Farms, Mr Dele Okunoye, has expressed excitement over the ruling of an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, which restrained some herders from encroaching on his farmland.
The farmer hailed the state government for responding to the situation when his farmland was ravaged by herds last year and for the legal support he received to seek court redress.
Okunoye had dragged a Fulani herdsman, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakili, and others associated with him before the court over alleged destruction of his crops by their herds last year.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, in a ruling on the matter on Wednesday, granted “an order restraining the Fulani herder, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakili, prohibiting him and other herdsmen associated with him from further encroaching on MAO Organic Farms or any farmland within the state”.
Responding, Wakili pledged that he would never return to the said farmland or any of its surrounding areas.
The herder also vowed that “we (he and other herders under my supervision) will not trespass on the property again under any circumstances.”
Wakili expressed his commitment to peace and assured the court of his willingness to abide by the laws of the state.
Okunoye, in a chat with journalists after the court proceeding, explained how over 100 acres of his crops, including rice, maize, cassava, and high-grade Malaysian oil palm valued at over N30m, were destroyed in a series of attacks in August 2024.
He said, “I am excited. I commend Governor Biodun Oyebanji and key agencies of the state government for the justice done following the destruction of my farmland by the cattle belonging to the herders.”
The farmer also praised the prompt and coordinated response of government officials and security agencies, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade; the Special Adviser on Security, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.); Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa (retd.); Agro Marshal Commander, ACP Olamide Oni (retd.); and the Ekiti State Police Command Rapid Response Squad led by CSP Marcus Ogundola.
PUNCH Metro recalls that the Ekiti State Government is intensifying efforts to resolve clashes between farmers and herders through dialogue, enforcement of grazing regulations and support for legal redress for victims of farm invasions. (Punch)
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