Olu Falae

Suspected Fulani herdsmen last weekend reportedly opened fire on 15 anti riot policemen deployed to the farm of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae in Ondo State.

Reports say the herdsmen numbering about 10 had invaded the elder stateman’s farm located at Kajola in Igbatoro area of Akure-North Local Government Area of Ondo State and destroyed it with their cattle.

The destruction of the farm prompted Falae to alert the State Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison who deployed some policemen to the farm only for them to be shot at by the herdsmen on arrival.

This action of the herdsmen resulted in an exchange of gunfire which led to the death of some cows while the herdsmen reportedly fled in different directions.

Confirming the incident, Chief Falae revealed that the herdsmen had in the past weeks been visiting and destroying his farm without any fear.

“I invited the police to my farm because the herdsmen have been coming to the farm everyday for several weeks and they are no longer hiding. They come to the farm around 5 a.m. till 9 a.m. and destroy the farm, so I went to the police for protection and some policemen were sent to the farm at the weekend,” Falae said.

“They got to the farm and met three separate herds feeding fat on my crops, but when the police approached them, they opened fire at the police. The policemen went there to see if they could arrest them for trespassing and destroying farm produce. So if the herdsmen fired at the police, what would they do to me?,” he wondered.

It would be recalled that herdsmen had about two years ago invaded Falae’s farmland, kidnapped him and  killed one of his guards in the process. After a few days in captivity, the former SGF was rescued by the police while his abductors were arrested and are currently facing trial at an Akure High Court.