Sunday’s arson on Chief Olu Falae’s farm has brought to four the number of direct attacks the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation has suffered in the hands of rampaging Fulani herdsmen since 2015.

In 2015 he was kidnapped on his Ilado farm, Akure, by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who were later apprehended. In 2016 his farms was attacked and cash crops worth millions of Naira destroyed. This attack prompted Falae to write to the Inspector General of Police, demanding justice. A similar attack from the herdsmen occurred in 2017. Officers of the Ondo Police command were mobilised to the farm, on sighting them, the herdsmen stood their ground and confronted the policemen in a shootout, injuring one officer.

The herdsmen recently set fire on Falae’s 10-hectare farm. According to news report and Falae, the attackers stole nothing from his farm. They simply showed up, set the farm ablaze, and left. He claimed they did this so that fresh green grass can sprout for their herds to feed on. Whatever their motives, the actions of these Fulani herdsmen is one that must be thoroughly investigated by security agencies.

Ondo has been largely spared the scourge of herdsmen attacks, which is why the repeated assault on Falae’s farms is worrisome. What is the relationship between the ex-SGF and the herdsmen that his farm has become a spot for repeated attacks from 2015 till date? Could this be as a result of his stand and the stand of the Afenifere socio-political group in relation to Fulani herdsmen? The recent attack provides a sense that these attacks are personal. The suspected herdsmen came without their herds of cattle, they simply came as arsonists, bent on causing harm.

tosin adesina