A retired secondary school principal Mr Ojedokun Modede was on Friday hacked by suspected Fulani herders in Igangan, Ibarapa North local government area of Oyo state.
Modede, who suffered serious machete cut on his arm was said to have
been attacked on his farm.
But, the police in confirming the incident said it was in reprisal of an
earlier attack on three herdsmen by the youths of the community.
According to a source close to the victim, trouble started when a Fulani
herder directed his cows to feed on the yam flour (elubo) which was spread on
the floor for sun drying.
The retired principal was said to have in anger challenged the decision
of the herder but was met by a resistant herder who drew out his machete with an
intention to strike him.
The farmer, it was gathered while trying to block the machet with his
bare hand suffered a deep cut in the process.
Sources confirmed that despite the first cut, the herder did not stop as
a single strike but gave the farmer another cut on the hand while the cows feed
on on the yam flour.
A call for help by the farmer was said to have saved his life as the
assailants immediately took to their heels upon hearing sounds of people coming
to his aids.
He was later rushed to a private hospital in Igangan where he is
receiving medical attention.
The source who pleaded anonymity said “A retired principal, Mr. Ojedokun
Modede on the farm today (Friday) around 2PM was maimed by Fulani herdsmen.
“He was attacked on his farm.
“A Fulani man directed his cows on his spread “elubo” and cows were
feeding. He challenged the Fulani man who drew the sword on him with a
murderous intent.
“He blocked the sword strikes with his hands while calling for help.
“The hands were maimed extremely as each strike of the sword was meant
for his head.
“Passerby rushed in and the assailant took to his heels.
“Pa Ojedokun is a retired principal at Igangan, living on epileptic
pension and thriving on farming.
“He is presently at Akintola Hospital, a private hospital in Igangan. He
is responding to treatment.”
Also speaking on the incident, Secretary of Ibarapa Farmers Union, Mr. Taiwo Adeagbo, who is popularly known as Akowe Agbe said there was no
confrontation between the farmer and the herdsmen who inflicted machete
injuries which almost chopped off his two hands.
He lamented that herdsmen had not stopped destroying farms and attacking
farmers in the area despite the public outcry against their criminal
activities.
Adeagbo said, “The victim is my relative. He is a retired principal and
he should be around 62 years old. I was called to see what happened to him. I
immediately called the Commissioner of Police (Ngozi Onadeko). She said I
should report to the police officially and I called the DPO in Ayete. He came
with two officers and two vans loaded with armed policemen.
“The DPO could not look at the pictures of the victim. They were gory.
Strands of flesh are preventing the two hands from falling off after the
attack. The two hands are almost off. They have ruined his life.”
Reacting when contacted, the Spokesperson of the Police, Oyo State
Command, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, said the attack was a reprisal by a herder to an
earlier attack against three Fulani by some youths in Igangan.
He said, “Information from DPO Ayete revealed that a Fulani herdsman
attacked and machete a man in his farm by causing injury to his hands.
“ The attack was a reprisal by some youths in Igangan, three Fulani
herdsmen were attacked and they sustained injuries while they were rushed to an
hospital in Igboora for treatment.
“The DPO Ayete and his police personnel including Police Mobile Force
(PMF) were drafted to the scene to prevent further attack. The aggrieved youths
were dispersed and normalcy restored.”
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