Suspected bandits have attacked four communities in Akure North LGA of Ondo state, killing at least fourteen local farmers, Peoples Gazette learnt.

The communities – Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Ademekun – were predominantly occupied by local farmers.

A police source in the community confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the bandits stormed the communities at midnight Friday.

He explained that 14 dead bodies had so far been recovered in the affected communities while search was still ongoing.

“Our men were immediately deployed in the areas when the report got to the command on Sunday. As I’m speaking with you, about 14 dead bodies had been recovered in the villages, he said.

A local resident in one of the affected communities who identified himself as Sunday also explained that scores of the farmers who were taken into the bush are still missing.

He said that the attack had started last week on Monday, but the major one happened on Friday night without anybody stopping them.

“They attacked our communities on Friday night when everyone was asleep. They opened fire at everyone at sight. So many ran into the bush for safety while some unlucky ones were killed at the villages. I am sure that over 40 people have been killed while many have sustained injuries.

“On Sunday, the security men came around and recovered some of the corpses. Many are still not found. If they search further, they will still find more dead bodies in the bush,” he said.

The Regent of Ademekun Community, Adelowo Adekemisola, had earlier on Monday raised the alarm over the sad incident.  

She confirmed that the bandits killed 14 farmers in her own community, stressing that the marauders came in from the Edo-Ondo boundaries to the farmers.

“Fourteen people were killed last weekend by the herdsmen who infiltrated my community and started shooting sporadically. The community has been battling the herdsmen problem for the past six years.”

She, however, called on the state government and the security agencies in the state to come to the rescue of the communities.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the police spokesperson in the state, said investigation had been launched into the attack, adding that officers from the command have been deployed to the bush and are currently after the perpetrators.

“The matter was reported on Saturday that Aba Pastor community was attacked, immediately the command swung into action to ensure normalcy is restored and arrest the perpetrators,” Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya added.