Residents of Ayegbaju Ekiti, in the Oye-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have protested the killing of a farmer, Elijah Ogor, allegedly by a suspected herdsman.
Ogor was reportedly killed on his farm located between Ayegbaju and Ido-Ekiti on Wednesday after his farm was allegedly destroyed by cattle.
Confirming the development and the detention of a suspect, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said, “We learnt that a farmer was killed on his the farm. The suspected killer was apprehended and brought to the police station. He is presently in our custody and once we conclude investigations, we shall charge him to court.”
It was gathered that, as soon as the were notified, the Seriki Fulani in Ekiti, Alhaji Abashe Adamu, the task force of the Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, Ekiti chapter, launched a manhunt for the perpetrator, which led to the arrest a herder in connection with the death.
One of the protesters, who identified himself as Adeleye, said the victim was shot in the back.
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Adeleye said, “All we want is justice. How can a Fulani cattle rearer go to someone’s farm, destroy it and still go ahead to kill the farmer? This is unjust and callous. This issue must be investigated thoroughly and whoever is responsible should be prosecuted accordingly.”
Also, confirming the development, GAFDAN Ekiti chapter, Toyin Ibrahim, said “We got 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 one man in connection with the crime.
“When we saw him; he was holding a rifle with live cartridge. We queried the rationale behind the carrying of firearm which contravened the Ekiti State Anti-Open Grazing Law, but he gave no reason. He was just raising issues that would make him look innocent.
“The reason 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 handed him over to the police at Ido-Ekiti where he was detained.”