. ..Fear of reprisal grips residents, police arrest suspect
. ..Residents appeal for Gov Aiyedatiwa’s intervention

By Kayode Afolabi, Ore

Many residents of Mile 10, Oniseere ward in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have fled the area following the tension being generated by the alleged killing of two suspected produce thieves by a farmer, simply identified as Adegoke.

Adegoke was said to have beaten the two yet-to-be-identified produce thieves to death for allegedly stealing some of the produce from his farm in the community, as well as his motorcycle.

The Hope Metro gathered that the incident, which occurred last Sunday, had resulted in heightened tension in the area, with many residents of Mile 10, who feared being caught in a crossfire in the event of any inter-communal reprisal attack by the Aba Tuntun community, where the two suspected thieves allegedly killed by the farmer belonged to, leaving in droves.

It was learnt that the incident had already sparked tension between the two neighbouring communities, forcing some residents of Mile 10, Oniseere ward to continue to move out of the area.

A resident of the Mile 10 community, who preferred anonymity, narrated that the tense situation in the area began when various farm produces belonging to Adegoke, the farmer were stolen.

He said the suspected thieves, numbering four, had been stealing from Adegoke’s farm for long before last Sunday’s incident.

According to him,” Some suspected thieves had been stealing the farm produces of one Adegoke, popularly called Ariya. But he had been keeping quiet for long.

“However, nemesis caught up with the thieves, as Adegoke was able to get hold of two persons out of four found on his farm.

“Before now, his Cocoa pods, Kola nuts, and plantains had been missing from his farm often and often, including his motorcycle. But he found two persons culpable of the offence.

“Adegoke beat the two persons to stupor, and in the process, they died. And that has led to intra-communal tension in the area. Everybody in the area scampered to safety from the farm for fear of possible reprisal attack, as I speak.

“We are calling on the Governor of Ondo State and the police to wade in before things get out of hand.

“We are no longer safe in this community.”

Our correspondent, however, gathered that Adegoke was arrested by the police in Costain and has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for investigation.