Suspected herdsmen murdered in Ondo

A middle aged man, suspected to be a Fulani nomadic herdsman, identified as Dan Bako, was on Wednesday evening, murdered by unknown person at Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.

This was coming barely a week after an Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) member, Mr. Ayodele Ige was killed in the farm of Chief Olu Falae in Ilado, via Akure.

Babangida Sodiq Kusada, head of the Fulani herdsmen in the State, who confirmed this to journalists in Akure, said Dan Bako was earlier declared missing before his dead body was found.

Also the Chairman of Hausa community in Akure, Alhaji Alli Dongo, explained that the kinsman had been living in Ilara-Mokin for the past seven years and was preparing to relocate to his state when the incident happened.

He added that the deceased was sent by his kinsmen to buy food for them in Igbaro-Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore council area and left with his motorcycle.

“It was after they waited for hours without seeing him that a search party was organised for him” he said.

He noted that Dan’s motorcycle was seen beside a bush along the road, while his herds were also seen in the bush without him.

Dongo said four people including the deceased family members have been arrested over the death.

He, however, suspected that the herdsman must have been killed because his cows destroyed someone’s farm in the town.

He appealed to people who have their farm products destroyed by herdsmen to report to the head of Hausa or Fulani community instead of taking laws into their hands.

The Police Spokesman in the State, Demi Joseph, could not confirm the incident to journalists as at press time.

However, sources in the town told Daily Times that heavy security agents have taken strategic position in the State.