Fulani Herdsmen attack Farmer in Ogun, Kill One, Abduct Two, destroy farmland
Suspected Fulani herdsmen have attacked the farm of one Alabi Mufutau Shola, located in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government area of Ogun State.
The Fulani herders who invaded the farmland killed one of the farm workers, Olopade Yusuf, and abducted two other workers whose names are Akanji Adekola and Ibrahim kareem
It was gathered that the farm of Alabi Mufutau Shola has been on several occasions being attacked by the herdsmen with his crops seriously damaged and fed to their cows.
Just few months ago, exactly March 10th 2023, at about 3.00pm, the herders it was gathered attacked Alabi Mufutau Shola’s farm in a commando manner, while threatening the farm workers including those who dared to challenge them with deaths.
They came with Ak47 rifle, they started shooting sporadically into the air to scare the farm workers including the farm Owner, Mr Alabi Mufutau Shola, away, they were speaking in their Fulfide language and wielding guns, it took divine intervention for some of the workers to escape that day.
It was gathered that Alabi Mufutau Shola who owns the farm was very annoyed and highly devasted to have seen his crops been destroyed by the Fulani herdsmen, he appealed to them to chase the cows away from the farm, but rather, they threatened to kill him and any other persons that tried to stop them or their Cows from feeding on the farms.
They later went away with their Cows, and when the matter was reported at the Ketu Police Station, they could not make any arrest nor prosecute the herders, they only told the Farm workers and the owner to go and promised to take action.
When they attack again on 27th of April 2023, it was gathered that the herdsmen in their tens invaded the farmland again with dangerous weapons, killing one and wounding several others and abducting two farm workers.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent, one of the farm workers who escaped the onslaught and pleaded for anonymity because of his safety said the herdsmen killed one Olopade Yusuf, after their cows entered the farm, destroying everything in the farm including food and cash crops.
He said that they are worried about the development, since these herdsmen have vowed to totally terminate the lives of their principal, Alabi Mufutau Shola because he had been preventing their cows from feeding on the farms.
“Because of the attack and threats to the life of Alabi Mufutau Shola, he has to run for his life to unknown place because this people may end up kidnapping or killing him if care is not taken.
He confirmed that the attack is one of several clashes known to occur between herdsmen roving the Nigeria-Benin border.
Also speaking one of the farm workers of Alabi Mufutau Shola who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed that his Boss, Alabi Mufutau Shola causes the arrest of the Fulani leaders who invaded their farmland in Ketu.
“It was because of the arrest of their leaders that my Boss was advised to run for his life.
He said after the first attack, my boss, Mr Alabi Mufutau Shola who has the largest farmland in the Ketu axis facilitated the arrest of some Fulanis who attacked the farm,, with this, they vowed to relaunch the attack and this they did on 27th of April 2023, when a group of Fulani herders re-attacked the farm.
“This made my boss to run for his life because those people were shouting in their language to kill him or abduct him because when they came the second time, as promised, they set the farm house ablazed after feeding on crops with their Cows, and two of my colleagues were kidnapped while the other one was killed instantly.
“So that’s why my Boss was advised to escape for his dear life because those people vowed to kill him if they ever set their eyes on him.
When Our Correspondent called on the Police Public Relations Officer for the State, Omolola Odutola, she said the police are already aware of several attacks from herdsmen from that zone.
She said the investigation on the attack of Alabi Mufutau Shola farmland and the abduction of two of his workers has been incidented, though no arrest has been made so far.
