Herdsmen murder father of two in Ekiti

Suspected herdsmen identified as Fulani Bororos, have allegedly murdered a father of two, Olayemi Tunde, 32, in Ipao-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State yesterday while he was returning from his farm.

The tragic incident has thrown the town into confusion as palpable fear gripped residents over a possible reprisal. Olayemi, a commercial motorbike rider, who also has a farm in the farm settlement in Ipao-Ekiti, had gone to harvest some cassava when he met his untimely death.

Narrating how the incident happened, chairman of Ikole Local Government Area, Mrs. Abiola Ajayi, who spoke on telephone, said the deceased met his death when Fulani herdsmen ambushed and killed him.

She said: “The deceased was an Okada rider who has a farm in the settlement. He had gone to harvest some cassava. He was with one other person. They were heading back to town and have loaded the motorbike with cassava when they saw some Fulani herdsmen coming towards them. The herdsmen brought out their gun and two of the farmers had to run for their life. The Bororos pursued the two men and eventually got Olayemi who they massacred like a cow.

“We have reported the matter to the nearest police station and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) has since swung into action and sent two vehicles and they have gone to the scene of the murder to take the body and also commence investigation,” she said.

Adebayo Odeyemi, head of the local hunters in the community,  ho also spoke to reporters, said the hunters have declared war on the herdsmen and would not allow such development to be repeated.

“We haven’t attacked any herdsman but they have killed one person. Right now, we will ensure they are not allowed to do this again. We are valiant men not cowards and we will face them this time around. They have massacred one of us mercilessly and this won’t happen again,” he said.