By Faridat Salifu
The Ondo State Government has deployed military personnel to farmlands in Ala, Akure North Local Government Area, to secure farmers and reclaim encroached agricultural land from criminal elements.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Rotim Akinsola, said last Wednesday in Akure that 22 soldiers had been stationed in the area to protect farmers and deter attacks.
Akinsola explained that the move followed recent incidents in which suspected herders attacked and killed farmers, creating fear among local communities.
He said the clearance operation would enable investors and farmers to access large tracts of land without intimidation and restore confidence in food production.
The governor’s aide noted that securing forest reserves is key to attracting agribusiness investment, as encroachment has made it difficult to allocate land to new projects.
Akinsola added that the government is working to engage young people in agriculture through a planned sanatorium farms system, which is expected to create jobs and boost food security.
He said efforts are ongoing to recover government land, strengthen investor confidence, and ensure that farming communities can work safely across the state’s 16 forest reserves.
