…Police Commissioner Visits Troubled Communities

…Many Still Missing, Fled into Cocoa Plantation

…Bandits Stormed Communities Unprovoked

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Survivors of the massacre by armed herders in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have recounted their harrowing experiences.

The attack, which took place in the dead of night, saw bandits invade and sack four communities—Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, Ademekun Camp, and Aba Alajido Camp within Ala Elefosan—leaving at least 20 people dead.

According to survivors, the assailants stormed the communities unprovoked, opening fire on residents as they slept. Many sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals, while others fled into the surrounding forest and cocoa plantations for safety.

Speaking from their hospital beds, two siblings, John and Solomon Simon, who were shot during the attack at Sunday Camp, described their near-death experiences.

John Simon, who suffered a gunshot wound to his hand, said: “At least nine bodies were recovered after the attack. The bandits operated unchallenged and without mercy.

I was sleeping when I heard gunshots. The person beside me had already been shot. As I tried to escape, I was hit in the hand.

I managed to run into the bush and hid in a cocoa plantation until daybreak. I struggled with my injured hand and made it back in the morning, where I was rushed to the hospital. Nine people were killed in our camp.”

He added that the attackers were Fulani herdsmen, saying: “I have been in Sunday Camp for four years, and we have never harmed any Fulani cattle. We don’t understand why we were attacked.”

His brother, Solomon, also narrated his ordeal: “The attack happened around 2:00 am. I was not deeply asleep when I heard a loud call, followed by gunfire.

I summoned the courage to flee before they reached my house. Unfortunately, two of my friends were not so lucky and were killed inside.

They were herdsmen. We recovered nine bodies.”

Ondo State Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, visited the affected communities and surviving victims, ordering the immediate deployment of the command’s homicide department to the area.

During his visit, Afolabi urged residents to promptly report incidents to the police as they occur and verify information before spreading it to avoid unnecessary panic. He also addressed community members and visited survivors at the hospital.