Several cows belonging to herders invaded and destroyed a N10million cassava farm at Igbaraoke, headquarters of Ifedore local government area of Ondo State.

The farm belongs to former Commissioner for Information in the state, Dr. Eddy Olafeso.

The cassava farm located on 30 hectares of land was turned to a level ground, destroying all the cassava on the farm while the owner of the farm, Olafeso was almost in tears while lamenting over the destruction of his farm.

While narrating his ordeal in the hands of nomadic herdsmen, the farm manager, Adeola Ariyo, explained that herdsmen uprooted the whole cassava for their cows to feed on.

According to him, workers on the farms concluded the weeding of the farm after spending about N600,000 before going for Christmas break only to return to the farm to meet an empty farm.

Ariyo said there were traces of the footprints of the cows and the herdsmen at the cassava farm, saying most of the cassava were uprooted and given to the cows to feed on them.

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The farm manager said they planned to embark on harvesting of the cassava and reinvest the money on more capital projects but said the hope had been dashed with the destruction of the cassava farm.

He however said the incident had been officially reported to the headquarters of Amotekun in Ifedore local government.

Accordimg to him, the colossal loss on the farm by the herdsmen and their cows affected the health of his principal, adding that the herdsmen ravaged the entire farm and destroy their means of survival.

The former.commissioner has written the state governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to intimate the state government about the development

He lamented that his 30 hectares cassava farm under the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment center in Igbaraoke had been totally destroyed by herdsmen

In the letter addressed to the governor, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Agriculture, Mr. Akin Olotu and the Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said over N10m had been destroyed.

“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 inspection of 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

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“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 has been reported to the Amotekun station at Igbaraoke. These evil herdsmen must be brought to book , otherwise the effect of this insanity will shake the state to its foundation”