BREAKING: Tension In Oyo Community As Hoodlums Kill Farmer, Burn Cocoa Farm

Residents of Igangan in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State are griped by fear over the alleged killing of a 65-year-old farmer, Bashiru Akinlotan, by some suspected hoodlums.

Our correspondent gathered that Akinlotan was strangulated to death and his killers set fire to his cocoa plantation.

Igangan and other communities in Ibarapaland have recorded many killings and maiming of Indigenes as well as destruction of farms by suspected criminal Fulani herdsmen.

This led to a crisis which resulted in issuing of quit notice to the Seriki Fulani in the area, Salihu Abdukadir.

Residents told our correspondent on Thursday that the corpse of the farmer was found about 20 metres away from his farm and the farm was burnt probably by his killers.

The case was said to have been reported to the Igangan Police Station and the remains of the farmers were buried around 8pm on Wednesday.

The Secretary of Farmers’ Union, Taiwo Adeagbo, popularly known as Akowe Agbe, when contacted told our correspondent that he personally led those who reported the case to the DPO at Igangan Police Station.

Adeagbo said, ” He went to his farm along Apodun and lgangan road on February 10 and we met him dead around 5:30pm about 20 metres away from his 12-acre cocoa plantation.

” Bashiru Akinlotan was about 65 years of age. We reported to lgangan Police Station, the corpse was released for burial by 8pm.

” He must have been strangulated and his farm was burnt. So this shows that our area is not yet safe. These people are still around attacking and killing our people. We want government to know this.”