Five persons have been reportedly killed during an attack by gunmen at Ajegunle-Powerline community in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

A witness and farmer in the community, Akin Olowolafe, told journalists on Thursday in Akure that five people were allegedly killed during the attack, which happened on Tuesday at about 3pm.

Mr Olowolafe said the gunmen entered the farmlands while people were working and started shooting indiscriminately into the air, which resulted in the death of five farmers.

According to him, the gunmen usually attack the farmlands on a daily basis around the community, and it has made life unbearable for the farmers.

He said, “Many farmers in the community have fled their farms for fear of being killed. The attacks are unchecked while there is no intervention from the appropriate authorities. The incessant clashes and destruction of farm crops are worrisome and it has led to boycotting of farms by farmers in the area.’’

Also, a labourer, Fidelis Daniel, corroborated the story, stating that the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary.

He stated, “I was on a farm too when the incident happened. I heard the sound of guns, and I immediately ran to my house. It was even God that saved me too, they would have killed me.

They suddenly came with weapons to destroy our crops and killed five people; three from Plateau State and two from Kaduna State.’’.

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, who confirmed the incident to journalists, however, denied the casualty number.

“There was an attack on the community, and police are still investigating, but I cannot confirm the number of people that were killed,” the PPRO said.

(NAN)