TheCable

At least two people lost their lives on Thursday when suspected herders attacked operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps.

The incident occurred at Ago Sanusi, along Ute Road, Owo local government area (LGA) of the state.

TheCable gathered that a farmer whose name was given as Lanre had earlier been abducted by the suspected herders and his corpse was later found with his right and left hands cut off.

After discovering Lanre’s corpse, farmers in the area called on Amotekun operatives for intervention.

Operatives of the security outfit got to the scene and were also attacked by the suspected herdsmen.

A source told TheCable that a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria who joined the Amotekun in the operation was shot in the head.

Also, the head of operations of security outfit in Owo, identified as Oluwasesan Adebayo, was reported missing after the attack.

Adebayo Ayeni, public relations officer of the Amotekun Corps, confirmed the incident in a statement.

He said: “Men of Ondo State Security Network Agency has again made another major breakthrough in their strive to get rid of criminal elements in Ondo State.

“This cartel were piling up arms and ammunition to invade the entire state while masquerading as herders and using the forest as kidnappers den for negotiation and ransom, illegal mining activities and cultivation of Indian hemp.

“The security outfits in conjunction with the police, the army and other security agencies in the state however smoked them out of the forest, after it was discovered that the bandits had killed a farmer and a member of the vigilante group in the area.

“They also went to the village where an Amotekun vehicle was parked and set it ablaze.”