Five Die, Houses Burnt As Farmers, Herders Clash In Ogun

No fewer than five persons were reportedly killed in a renewed clash between farmers and herders in Idofa village, Imeko Afon local government area of Ogun State. 

Sunday Tribune gathered that property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the clash between the herdsmen and Ohori farmers. 

A source informed our correspondent that the people of Aworo community in Yewa North Local Government had engaged the herdsmen from their community in the fight, which led to the killing of three persons and cows. 

Sunday Tribune gathered that residents of Aworo community had accused the herdsmen of destroying their farms and equally contaminating their water sources through open-grazing of cows. 

It was also gathered that the herdsmen in a reprisal on Thursday were said to have killed two farmers, one of whom was burnt beyond recognition. 

The source informed that houses, maize barns, motorcycles and other valuables were set ablaze in the attack. 

“The Aworo people chased the herdsmen from Yewa North to Idofa in Imeko. They killed three of them there and killed their cows. 

“On Thursday, the Fulani herdsmen returned in the dead of the night to launch an attack. They killed two persons, set houses and other properties on fire. One of those killed was burnt in a house beyond recognition. It took the intervention of the police and the Amotekun corps to calm the situation. 

“As we are talking, many Ohoris are injured, hundreds are now displaced at Imeko town. We need the attention of the Federal and state governments to take care of the displaced persons,” the source said. 

Many residents of the affected communities according to information have fled their homes for fear of being attacked. 

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident and promised that the command would unravel those behind the acts. Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police said the command had invited all stakeholders from the affected areas to a meeting. 

“We heard about it. It is an unfortunate incident and we are investigating it. We have called on all stakeholders, including the Fulani communities that have been living in that place, who testified that they did not even know the reason for the attack. 

“We are investigating to ensure that those who carried out that dastardly act are apprehended in order not to cause further crises. 

“The situation is under control as more policemen have been deployed to the place. The Commissioner of Police has directed that the Area Commander should take charge of the security situation in the area.

“No arrest has been made yet, but we are on it and we are sure that those who committed that act will be apprehended,” Oyeyemi said.