Akeredolu express shock over herdersmen guts to launch attack

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has expressed disbelief over the audacity of suspected Fulani herders launching attacks on communities in Ondo state despite the security arrangement put in place.

Gov Rotimi Akeredolu

The governor further stated that he never imagined that the security threat in the state would get to its current point.

Akeredolu said this on Tuesday while appointing the Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye as his Special Adviser on Security Matters.

Herders numbering about 50 had on January 7, 2022 laid siege to Molege village where three people were hacked to death and houses razed.

The governor emphasised that the invasion of communities and villages by criminals masquerading as herdsmen was part of what informed his decision to have a Special Adviser who had been part of the system.

While disclosing that Adeleye will continue to function as the Corps’ Commander, Akeredolu noted that the appointment was part of the efforts towards improving the working relationship between government and security agencies in the state.

“That people will have the audacity to come to our villages and communities, kill our people and set their houses ablaze. I knew I needed to do something. Part of my immediate reaction is what you are seeing here today.

“I am a practical person. And I have seen that we are faced with a lot of challenges. I know that my SSA on Security is never part of our executive council and I am convinced that we have a security council meeting, only few of us here are on it.”

Starting in 2011, the insecurity left from the conflict between the Fulani and Hausa ethnic groups quickly allowed other criminal and jihadist elements to form in the region.