Suspected thieves kill cocoa farmer in Ondo, investigation ongoing

By Boye Oyeyemi

A 52-year-old farmer, Ajibade Kehinde, has been found dead on his cocoa farm at Alani Camp, near Supare, in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Kehinde was reportedly on his way to the farm on Thursday, September 3, 2026, but failed to return home, prompting members of his family to raise the alarm and begin searching for him.

However, his lifeless body was later discovered along a farm road in the area, leaving residents and his family members seeking answers over the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to a source familiar with the incident, Kehinde may have been attacked by suspected thieves operating in the area, although the exact cause of his death had yet to be established.

The source added that some farm produce were found at the scene, suggesting that the suspected attackers might have fled without taking away the produce after the incident.

Following the discovery, police operatives led by the divisional police officer visited the scene and evacuated the deceased to Iwaro General Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead.

Meanwhile, the police have deposited Kehinde’s remains at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy as investigations continue to determine the circumstances surrounding his death and establish whether the incident was linked to an attempted theft.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command was working to uncover what led to the farmer’s death and identify those responsible, assuring members of the public that necessary steps would be taken to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.