WOLE BALOGUN, Ado Ekiti
Ayegbaju Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was on Thursday evening thrown into confusion and mourning as people of the town protested alleged killing of a farmer, Elijah Ogor, by a suspected Fulani herdsman.
Our correspondent learnt that Ogor, an indigene of Benue State, who was in his 30s and was killed inside his farm located between Ayegbaju and Ido Ekiti on Wednesday after the farm was allegedly destroyed by cattle.
The angry protesters blocked the Ifaki-Ayegbaju and Ayegbaju-Oye road and prevented movement of vehicles for over an hour in and out of the town.
One of the protesters, who identified himself as Adeleye, said the victim was shot by a suspected herder at the back and he died in a pool of his own blood right on his farm.
“All we want is justice. How could a Fulani cattle herder go to someone’s farm and destroyed it and still go ahead to kill him? This is unjust and callous.
“This issue must be investigated thoroughly and whoever was involved should be prosecuted accordingly.”
Immediately the death was reported through the Seriki Fulani in Ekiti, Alhaji Abashe Adamu, the task force of Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Ekiti chapter, swung into action and combed Ayegbaju-Ido-Iludun expansive farmland and arrested one Umar Abubakar Sanda, in connection with the death.
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Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sanda’s arrest, GAFDAN’s Secretary in Ekiti, Hon. Toyin Ibrahim, said: “We got the information from Seriki Fulani that a farmer was killed in Ayegbaju. Our task force, comprising virtually all the ethnic groups in Nigeria moved into that bush and arrested Umar Sanda.
“At the point we saw him, he was holding a rifle and with live cartridge inside. We queried the rationale behind the carrying of firearm which contravened Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Law, but he gave no reason. He was just raising issues that would make him look innocent.
“The reason why we suspected him was that, two other people were with the deceased when he was shot; they escaped from the scene and the description they gave showed that the suspect was involved.
“As a law-abiding group, we immediately took Sanda to the police station at Ido Ekiti where he was detained. Part of our mandate in GAFDAN is to arrest cattle rustlers and errant herdsmen, who destroy farmlands or commit other offences.”
Ibrahim appealed to the government to empower the group to be able to carry out the mandate of ensuring harmonious relationship between farmers and Fulani herders.
He said the group would also support the security agencies to reduce senseless killings by errant Fulani herdsmen.
When called for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said a suspect has been arrested in connection with the crime.
“We learnt a farmer was killed inside the farm and he (the suspect) has been apprehended and brought to the police. He is presently being detained in our custody and once we conclude investigations, we shall charge him to court,” he added.