Five people have been reported killed during an attack by gunmen at Ajegunle-Powerline community in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
A local farmer, Akin Olowolafe, confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday, revealing that the attack occurred around 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Olowolafe said the assailants stormed the farmlands while workers were present and began shooting indiscriminately into the air, which resulted in the deaths of five farmers.
He further explained that the gunmen frequently target the farmlands in the area, making life increasingly difficult for the farmers.
Many have fled their farms in fear of being killed, as the attacks go largely unchecked, and authorities have not intervened.
The continuous violence and destruction of crops have left farmers in the region in a state of despair.
A laborer, Fidelis Daniel, who was also on a farm during the attack, supported Olowolafe’s account. He described how he heard gunshots and ran for safety, narrowly escaping death.
“They came with weapons, destroyed our crops, and killed five people—three from Plateau State and two from Kaduna State,” Daniel recounted. The bodies of the victims have since been taken to the mortuary.
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the attack but disputed the reported number of fatalities.
“Police are still investigating the incident, but I cannot confirm the number of casualties,” she said.
