A violent clash between hunters and herders in the Iwoye-Ketu community of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Ogun State, resulted in the death of one person on Monday. The incident has heightened tensions in the community, leading to the shutdown of business activities as residents fear further unrest.
A local resident, speaking anonymously, revealed that the community has been grappling with a series of kidnappings, believed to be perpetrated by Fulani herders. In response, local hunters initiated regular patrols to enhance security in the area.
However, the situation escalated on Monday when suspected herders attacked the patrolling hunters, killing one of them. This tragic event triggered widespread fear, causing many residents to flee the market and stay indoors to avoid potential violence.
The resident explained, “The issue began with a spate of kidnappings. Just a few weeks ago, one person was kidnapped and released after a ransom of N500,000 was paid. Last week, two siblings were abducted, and the kidnappers demanded N1 million for their release. To curb these incidents, local hunters started patrolling the area. But on Monday, one of them was killed by suspected Fulani herders, sparking anger among the community members.”
The situation was eventually brought under control with the intervention of police and soldiers. However, efforts to reach the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, for further comments were unsuccessful as her phone line was unavailable at the time of this report.
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