The Regent of Oke Ako, Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Ogunbiyi Tinuade Adebayo, has cried out over the recent mass exodus of people from the town, caused by incessant attacks on the people by suspected herdsmen who have been unleashing terror on the zone in recent times.
The traditional ruler called on government to look at the plight of her people and find a lasting solution to the lingering menace by curbing the activities of the rampaging kidnappers that have formed a cartel causing unrest in the region
Two traditional rulers, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo, Oba Samuel Olatunde Olusola, were on Monday waylaid and murdered on Oke Ako/Ipao road, to add to the long list of several others that have been killed, maimed and kidnapped in the axis in recent times
According to Princess Adebayo, “the people have been living under siege in the past years as a result of seemingly unending terror activities of assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who seem to have found a safe haven in the zone and have been kidnapping and killing our people recklessly.
According to her, the activities of the kidnappers have affected the commerce of the town as indigenes resolved to migrate to other neighbouring towns for safety.
This reached the crescendo Monday as the number of migrants soar sequel to the gruesome murder of the two traditional rulers who were on their way from Ogbe, Kogi State.
“The mindless killing of these revered traditional heads with their mangled lifeless bodies littering the road in broad daylight is the peak of sacrilege and formed the last straw that quickened the pace of our people out of town to escape perceived wrath of the gods,” she said
As a result, she noted that farming and academic activities in Oke Ako and its environ has witnessed significant decline as farmers have abandoned their farms for fear of unpremeditated attacks while teachers posted to the zone have stayed back due to the volatility of the area.
The public and private schools in the town, according to her, are virtually empty due to dearth of the absence of the teachers..
“We have been on the horn of a dilemma for a long time. The herdsmen seem to have made our land the headquarters of their nefarious activities. Our farmers can no longer go to their farms; the schools are empty because no teacher would want to be posted here. These men from the dark world are always on our road, killing, raping and wreaking havoc on our people on daily basis. Our people have no choice than to vacate their homeland to find peace on another land
Oke Ako, a sleepy town in Ajoni Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ekiti State have recorded several doses of horrible onslaughts by suspected herdsmen, leaving them with tales of woes and gnashing of teeth
Several measures taken by past and present government to arrest the situation have not yielded significant impact as kidnap activities have been a recurring exercise on the road.
Several sons and daughters of the zone had fallen victims of the horrendous activities; some killed while others were raped or maimed after ransom have been collected by their abductors
