Protest rocks Ekiti community over killing of farmers by suspected herders

Residents of Isaba-Ekiti, Ikole LGA in Ekiti state, protested the killing of two farmers by suspected herders on Saturday.

One of the victims was identified as Toyin Akeju, while the other was a labourer known as Yusuf Onuche.

They were said to have been shot dead on their farm on Friday.

The protesters blocked major roads in the community and prevented the movement of vehicles for several hours.

TheCable understands that family members of the deceased, after waiting for their return from the farm, approached men of Amotekun corps, who in turn initiated a search alongside the local hunters and the police.

They discovered their corpses with gunshot injuries at the farm.

Sunday Abutu, police spokesperson in the state, confirmed the incident. He said the clash was preceded by a disagreement between both parties.

He said police operatives have been deployed to the area to maintain peace while an investigation into the matter has commenced.

Abutu said the deceased’s corpses have been recovered from the Amotekun corps and deposited in the morgue at Ikole General Hospital.

“There was a crisis between some farmers and the herders, in the process, there were casualties. The police were contacted and operatives have been deployed to that axis to maintain peace,” he said.