Suspected herdsmen have destroyed the 30 hectares of cassava farm owned by the former National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Eddy Olafeso, at Igbaraoke, headquarters of Ifedore local government area of Ondo State.
Olafeso, who is also Ondo Coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, said the cassava was due for harvest.
In a letter to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the politician disclosed that he was almost moved to tears when he visited the farm to inspect the level of damage.
According to him, he lost over N10m invested in the farm. The letter read;
“We arrived at our farm in Igbaraoke this morning, 11th January, 2023 to witness the destruction of our cassava farm by herdsmen.
“I went on to inspect our farm on the 23rd of December, 2022 after we completed the weeding of the entire plantation. We were expectant of good harvest but between Christmas and New Year our farm has been plundered.
“The pain inflicted on the family and the millions of naira lost can only be imagined. Our sweat for over one year was taken away just like that.
“Your Excellency, this case was reported to the Amotekun station at Igbaraoke this morning. These evil herdsmen must be brought to book, otherwise the effect of this insanity will shake the state to its foundation.”
The Nation reported that manager of the farm, Adeola Ariyo, said the herdsmen uprooted the cassava for their cows to feed on.
He said workers concluded the weeding of the farm for N600,000 before going for Christmas break, and they returned to the farm to meet the crops destroyed. The farm manager added that there were traces of the footprints of the cows and the herdsmen at the cassava farm.
Ariyo said;
“We planned to embark on harvesting of the cassava and reinvest the money on more capital projects but the hope has been dashed with the destruction of the cassava farm
“Cows have turned the 30 hectares of land into a grazing field. The herdsmen destroyed the entire farm and destroyed our means of survival.
“I was dazed when I got to the farm and see the destruction and i have to call my master to inform him and he was devastated with the news. The incident has been reported to the office of the Amotekun Corps.”
