By Our Correspondent
The Agbekoya Society of Nigeria, a Yoruba farmers and hunters association, says it has deployed about 4,000 personnel to provide security for farmers in the Southwest.
The President-General of the association, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola, announced this at a news conference, on Wednesday, in Lagos.
TheNewsZenith reports that Agbekoya held the press conference.to unveil activities for the 85th Anniversary celebration of the society.
Southwest governors, the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other Yoruba leaders and farmers, will attend the anniversary scheduled to hold on Nov. 26.
“Today, Agbekoya is still leading as the biggest farmers’ association in Nigeria since 1938. And, we will continue to provide security for our farmers.
“Agbekoya has done a lot for farmers and this has helped in feeding the nation.
“We have eradicated anything that can make our farmers run away from farms.
“Security in farms is relatively good now. We are protecting farmers and their farms.
”We have put up several measures to ensure security for farmers,” the president-general said.
Okikiola said the association had reduced cases of kidnapping and Farmer-Fulani clashes in towns and farms.
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”If you see any, they are very few.
“This is because our security arm swing into action in case of any hitch anywhere.
”We have about 4000 security personnel for farmers’ protection in southwest alone.”
He said that Agbekoya had been useful to conventional security outfits like Police to undertake certain difficult security tasks that required going into forests to track down criminals.
On the society’s achievements, Okikiola said Agbekoya, under his leadership, had grown membership from initial 49 to 4.3 million members.
On the anniversary, the president-general said the Ooni of Ife would be the Royal Father of the Day.
The Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hameed Oyelude (Tegbosun III) would be Chairman of the occasion and Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, as Mother of the Day.
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“Since our inception in 1938, Agbekoya society of Nigeria, has stood as a guardian of agricultural interests.
”It is ensuring security and prosperity of our farming community.
“The 85th-anniversary celebration is a testament to our commitment to the welfare of farmers and the sustainable development of agriculture,” he said.
Okikiola said the association would honour pioneers of Agbekoyas.
This is to honoured the visionaries and leaders who played pivotal roles in the success and growth of the society in past years.
According to him, there will also be an interactive forum to engage stakeholders in discussions on the future of agriculture, sustainable practices, and security in ensuring a thriving farming community.
”The anniversary will reinforce the collective strength of agricultural sustainability for the good of the nation.”
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