Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, on Sunday paid sympathy visit to the families of two farmers who were allegedly killed in a farm in Isaba Ekiti, Ikole LGA by herders late on Friday, assuring that justice would be done.
The two farmers, identified as Mr Toyin Akeju a.k.a. Jisoro, and Mr. Yusuf Onoche a.k.a. Baba Owala, were both reportedly murdered right on the farm after earlier engaging their assailants in arguments over incessant cases of farm raid and destruction by cattle.
The killing, howeve,r on Saturday attracted violent protest by residents of the Isaba community, among them youths, women and children who stormed the streets protesting the murder during which all roads leading to the town were blocked against traffic.
Mr Akin Omole, Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, said in a statement that the governor’s visit was In demonstration of empathy and association with the community’s grief.
Quoting the governor, he said; “Every life in Ekiti is sacred, and by the grace of God, the sincere commitment of the Government of Ekiti state to the protection of lives and property, and the cooperation of our people, justice will be done”.
We stand by you and will do all it takes as a government to bring the culprits to book, and ensure Ekiti is safe and secure.”
The Government of Ekiti State regrets the gruesome killing of the two farmers in Isaba-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government. ”
They did not deserve the fate that befell them”, he said.
Continuing, the statement said, “We empathise with the traditional ruler of Isaba-Ekiti, Oba Olanrewaju Oluwaseun Adeyanju, the families of our slain kinsmen, and the entire people of Isaba-Ekiti on this tragic occurrence which has understandably led to demonstrations in protest of the killings. ”
We appeal to the community for calm even when justifiably grieving and angry, and count on their cooperation with the security agencies in the investigations”.
The statement assured that ” the deeply worrisome development is being investigated by the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with the Amotekun Corps in Ekiti, with a view to bringing the culprits to book and forestalling a re-occurrence”.
It added that the state government was fully supporting the security agencies in this regard.
