It was a tragic Monday night at Akowonjo area, a suburb of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, as a middle age man identified simply as Isaac was hacked to death in front of his alcohol shop by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen have become rampant in this part of the country, insightonline.com can report.
Only last week, a 31-year old graduate engaged in farming, Adigun Solomon Adeyemi, was stabbed to death by suspected Fulani herdsmen at his farm in Elemuye village, Surulere local government area of Ogbomoso, for daring to challenge them to stop his farm destruction by their cattle. Earlier in January, a cleric, Rev’d Segun Adegboyega, was also mowed down by these blood-thirsty herdsmen at the back of his house in Gege area for also cautioning them against destruction of his backyard farm.
There have been other incidents of killings which however went unreported in the media.
Meanwhile, one common style of the killers is striking their victims from behind when they turned their back to go, after a little skirmish.
“So, don’t turn your back on a Fulani herdsman especially after an altercation with them, they are intolerant, cruel and beastly,” someone noted.
The Akowonjo killing of Isaac, who was said to have lost his wife about two years ago, was provoked also by an insignificant altercation.
According to a neighbour, who however refused to give his name, the deceased suffered the cruel fate for also trying to caution a band of Fulani herdsmen who were creating nuisance in front of his house, where he operated a shop, selling sachet alcoholic drinks.
“It was unfortunate. His house is at a junction. He sold alcohol packed in sachets, which other residents of the area had however previously complained about,” Adesola informed.
“These Fulani boys apparently coming from a drinking spree rode a motorcycle to the front of his shop and started creating a noisy scene. They were indeed fighting among themselves, Mr. Isaac walked up to them to caution them and to urge them to disengage. He was not part of the fight, he only intervened to stop them from provoking an escalation of the scuffle.
“But as he retreated to go back to his shop one of them attacked him with a dagger at the back, inflicting him with a mortal wound. He did not survive.”
The assailants took to their heels. However, it was disclosed the suspects were familiar.
Further investigations revealed one of them worked as herdsman in the farm of one Joshua also living in the area. “But he and his friends escaped arrest,” another resident, Sola Akande, said.
But it did not end there.
“In the morning, LAUTECH students and other youths mobilized to attack a Fulani hamlet (Gaa) in the area leading to the place being razed.
“But they were resisted by the Fulani people inhabiting the hamlet,” Akande added.
“The beleaguered persons fought back frantically inflicting sword wounds on some of the attackers and even brandished guns. Some other Fulani herdsmen were waylaid and subjected to beating.”
It was security agents who were said to have restored peace in the area.
Sources at Owode Divisional Police headquarters confirmed the incidents disclosing investigations into the matter had begun.
