Farmers in the Oluwa Forest Reserve, Ondo State, have petitioned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the alleged assault of their members by forest guards and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which they claimed resulted in the death of a 55-year-old farmer, Nwafor Romanus.
The farmers, who reside in Temidire Camp 1, Odigbo Local Government Area, are demanding an independent investigation into the September 2 incident, alleging that Romanus died from injuries sustained during the confrontation.
The petition, filed through their lawyer, Tope Temokun Chambers, also alleged that several farmers were beaten and injured during the operation, which involved ministry officials, forest guards and other security personnel.
Chairman of the farmers, Rotimi Isileye Abayomi, said the government team arrived in about 11 Toyota Hilux vans and a Land Rover SUV and seized motorcycles belonging to some farmers.
He alleged that the ensuing confrontation led to forest guards beating some of the farmers, including Romanus, who reportedly fell during the assault but did not die at the scene.
Abayomi said he contacted the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Rotimi Eemimo, who reportedly intervened over the seized motorcycles, but the officials allegedly left the forest with them.
He exonerated the soldiers and mobile policemen who were part of the team from the alleged assault.
The following morning, Abayomi said the camp leaders received a distress call from around Omi Ifon that Romanus had died.
The deceased’s daughters, Favour and Lilian Nwafor, alleged that their father suffered severe pain and could not sleep throughout the night after the incident. They said he was taken to the General Hospital, Ore, around 5am, where he was confirmed dead.
However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry had earlier denied that Romanus died as a result of the confrontation, reportedly attributing his death to an accident.
Rejecting the position, the petitioners urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to constitute an independent inquiry into the operation and suspend the forest guards and other personnel allegedly involved pending the investigation.
They also demanded the release of operational orders and deployment records, an independent medical examination to establish the cause of death, and an investigation into an affidavit reportedly describing Romanus’ death as an accident.
The petitioners further sought interim assistance for the deceased’s family and injured farmers and asked that any official found culpable be prosecuted.
They maintained that the inquiry should examine not only the cause of Romanus’ death but also the legality of the operation, the conduct of the officials and the administrative oversight of the ministry.