By John Ogunsemore
No fewer than 3,000 farmers on F3 Farm Settlement, Araromi, Oke-Odo in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State have appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), for help over incessant attacks by hoodlums.
The farmers made the appeal in a Wednesday statement signed by Professor Adewole Adebayo and Mr. Abdulrazak Lawanson and made available to SunOnline on Wednesday.
The farmers said they have been displaced by hoodlums who frequently visit their farms, destroy crops, steal produce, and chase them away with dangerous weapons.
The statement reads, “The F3 Farm Settlement, Araromi, Oke-Odo in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State was carved out of the Shasha Forest Reserve.
“The Osun State Government created the F3 Farm Settlement to cater to the needs of the rising population in Osun State by providing land for farmers for food production.
“Allocations were made to different farmers to farm and produce food for the state.
“The journey so far has been littered with stories of woes and painful regret. There has never been any season when the problem has not been experienced through the actions of hoodlums who destroy the crops planted on the farm, steal farming tools and implements, molest and violently beat up farmers, and threaten the farmers on the farm.
“The farming tools and implements forcefully seized are never returned to the owners; instead, they are sold.”
The farmers disclosed that several reports made to security agencies in Osun State have failed to yield any positive results as “arrests are rarely made”.
They observed that these culprits are somehow left off the hook without being prosecuted, making it clear that they are being backed by influential people who are using them as instruments of disruption.
The farmers revealed that after every arrest, anyone suspected to have reported the suspects to the police faces more hardened and more emboldened attacks.
“Many farmers have been banished by these so-called hoodlums and their farms forcibly taken over.
“Our investments on the land run into hundreds of millions of naira,” the statement further reads.
“We have also reported several times to the Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security about our plight on the farm, but it seems the government is pampering the hoodlums while the farmers who were allocated land for farming are left at the mercy of these elements as if they are greater than the laws of the land,” they stated.
The farmers stated that F3 Farm Settlement is just one of the nine farm settlements in Osun State.
“Farmers in other settlements carry out their activities in a very peaceful and prosperous environment.
“Our case at F3 Farm Settlement is totally different and sad,” they lamented.
They pleaded with Governor Adeleke to look into the matter and settle it once and for all so that there will be lasting peace in the farm settlement.
They equally appealed to the Ooni to wade into the matter by calling to order the people disturbing F3 Farm Settlement and their backers.
“They have continually tagged our Royal Father, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), and the palace to their nefarious and criminal activities against the F3 Farm Settlement farmers.
“They subject us to physical assaults, harassment and intimidation, confiscation of our farm produce, destruction of our farms, forceful entry of our farms, and harvesting of our farm produce.
“Our Kabiyesi, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), is a highly respected Kabiyesi, a loving and caring father to all, who believes in hard work and promoting peace.
“But they have been abusing the highly revered name of our Kabiyesi and the palace by treating us as bastards whereas we all belong to the Ooni,” they stated.
The farmers called on the authorities to fish out the trouble makers and their backers with the help of the security agencies in the state for prosecution.
They also demanded reinforcement of security on F3 Farm Settlement to protect lives and property.
They equally asked the state government to provide incentives to farmers who have been subjected to untold hardship by the hoodlums disturbing them on the farm.
“We, the farmers from F3 Farm Settlement, have invested in the state’s growth and stability. Not only do we produce food for the state and beyond, we also actively involved in community activities and contribute to the state’s development.
“However, our efforts are being sabotaged by hoodlums disrupting the peace and security on F3 Farm Settlement.
“Also, note that with this high population of farmers farming at F3 Farm Settlement, each with families, dependants and workers who are eligible to vote, the impact of this issue goes beyond just the farmers.
“Thousands of voters are directly affected and their voices deserve to be heard.
“The government has the responsibility to protect and support us, the hardworking and law-abiding farmers who are duly registered with the state government under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“By addressing our concerns and providing the necessary aid, the government will already earn our trust and loyalty.
“This will truly give us a sense of belonging and lift our burden,” the statement also reads.
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