Fulani Herdsmen in Osun State have started moving their cattle in droves
from the State over continuous attacks on their cattle by thunderstorms.
According to Report movement of thousands of cows was sighted along
Iwo-Osogbo road around 12:15am on Sunday morning, following a natural disaster
at Iba, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State, in which thunder
killed 17 cows”.
The movement of the herds of cows caused serious panic along the highway,
as motorists scampered for safety for fear of being attacked by herdsmen.
One of the herdsmen, who simply identified himself as Haruna when spoken
to, confirmed that there was a resolution among herdsmen in the state to move
their cows to a safer place.
He said : ” We are going home. We want to keep our cows in a safer place.
This environment is no longer safe for us and our cows. We don’t really
understand what is happening in Yoruba land.
“It happened in Ondo recently, in which our brothers in that state lost
many cows to thunderstorms. The same thing is happening here in Osun, where our
forefathers have lived for centuries without such an occurrence.
“These people are using spiritual power to kill our cows; killing our cows
is tantamount to killing our future. You keep your money in the banks, don’t
you? the cows remain our bank, so, any calamity that befalls the cows directly
affect our future”.
Asking him about their destination and any possibility of returning to their
base, Haruna reacted by saying” Why are you asking me such question, are you a
cattle rustler? We don’t disclose our destination to strangers. You are even
making me angry “.
Newsflash247 had earlier reported that no fewer than 17 cows and two sheep
were killed by a thunderstorm in Iba, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun
State.
According to an eyewitness, said the incident happened on Friday, November
22, at Gaa Eleesun, a community mostly populated by Fulani herdsmen.
It was further learnt that the thunderstorm, which struck around 6:00pm,
also injured many individuals in the community, causing serious apprehension.
Speaking on the development, the leader of Gaa Eleesun community, Chief
Jimoh Soliu lamented the loss of the animals.
Soliu said ”We had just returned from pasturing when thunder started
striking. We ran into the houses leaving our cows outside. But to our shock, we
found 17 cows and two sheep dead outside.
“This is devastating for us because since we have been staying in this
community, this strange occurrence has never happened.”
