Cattle rearers strangle community guard to death....SEE PHOTO

It was learnt that the 48-year-old vigilante was strangled to death at
the Omi-Arin farm in the community by the cattle rearers at about 11am
on April 1.
It was learnt that the decease`s wife, Elizabeth, had been to Omi-Arin
on the fateful day to pluck cashew, but was denied access to the farm
by the nomads. She reportedly rushed back home to inform her husband,
who armed himself with gun and cutlass and headed for the farm to
caution the gang.
It was learnt further that Dada's family became restless when it was
3pm and he had not returned home. They were said to have traced him to
the farm where his remains were found on a tree.
Not done, the assailants reportedly opened fire on a farmer, Babalola
Joseph, who was also at the farm to harvest his crop. He sustained
gunshot injuries in the leg and back.
He was said to have been rushed to the Omu-Aran General Hospital,
while Dada's remains were deposited at the Cottage Hospital Mortuary
in the neighbourhood.
The incident, it was learnt, was reported at the Ekiti Police Division.
During his visit to the community,the source saw some armed mobile
policemen patrolling the area.
One of the operatives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told a
source that they had been combing bushes to track down the attackers.
He said, "We have launched a manhunt for them. The villagers said they
heard gunshots on Monday, which indicates that the hoodlums may still
be lurking around. We have chased other nomads away from the community
to maintain peace."
A relative of Babalola, Mr. Are Lawrence, told a source that the
vigilante's death brought the number of victims killed by the nomads
to four in six months, adding that the attacks had instilled fear in
the community.
He said "Residents, especially farmers, have been having issues with
the Bororos for some time now. They rear cattle on farms and destroy
crops in the process. If they (the farmers) complain, the nomads will
resort to violence instead of begging them. We have been turned into
strangers in our own land. Our wives and children can no longer go to
farms again for fear of being attacked. Dada was strangled to death.
Six months ago they killed three persons."
Babalola, who managed to speak with firstclass newsline crew,said he
did not believe he would survive the attack.
He said, "I was at the farm that day to harvest my cashew crop. I was
about to enter my farmland when they shot me. When I did not see
anybody to help me, I forced my way to the town before I was rushed to
the hospital."
The atmosphere was still solemn when firstclass newsline visited Dada's family.
Fighting back tears, distraught Elizabeth said she had yet to come to
the reality that the father of her five children was dead.
"I can't still believe it. When he did not show up at home, we went to
the farm and met him dead," she said.
The deceased's 85-year-old mother declined to speak with our
correspondent, saying she was mourning her child.
The Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, condemned the attacks and
urged the state government to urgently address the situation.
He said, "We have reported cases of incessant attacks by these people.
We have also taken the matter to the traditional council in the Ekiti
Local Government Area and they have forwarded a communique to the
state commissioner of police, the governor and members of the House of
Assembly. The government should come to our aid because our people are
no longer safe."
The spokesperson for the police in Kwara State, ASP Ajayi Okansanmi,
confirmed the incident, adding that the police had swung into action.
"I am aware of the incident and the police have commenced
investigations on the attacks. We have restored peace to the community
and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the assailants," he said.
Firstclassnewsline.net