The Ondo State Security Agency, Amotekun Corps, have arrested a 52-year-old man, Mr. Ibarahim Musa, his two underaged children as well as 49 cows, he was rearing.

The herder and his children were arrested for harassing a septuagenarian in Kajola area of Akure South Local Government area of Ondo state.

It was gathered that the under-aged children: Audu Ibrahim and Musa Ibrahim who were six years old threatened one 70 year-old Mrs. Victoria Ajayi in her home with a cutlass.

Narrating her experience, the septuagenarian said she was in her house, when her grandson living with her called that cows have invaded their farm.

That evening, I was resting after taking my drugs because I was under medication for hypertension. My little boy called and said there were cows in our farm. I saw a man standing afar, while the two little boys were with the cows.

I asked them to call on their father as they gave deaf ears to my words and looked at me angrily.

As I was trying to make the children understand they should take the cows out of my farm, one of them brought out cutlass and pointed it to my face. Then I knew I was in for big trouble.

I quickly called my little grandson and went inside and shut my door. They were there for hours as I watch the cows ate my vegetables, pepper and also watched how they dug my heaps of yams with their legs and eat my long-awaited ready-to-be harvested yams.

I quickly reached for my drugs because I have been managing high blood pressure for some time. I quickly took my boy and went out through the back door where they could not see me because I never knew their next move as we are alone in the house.

The thought of renting another house occurred to me immediately, because of the frequent herdsmen invasion with cows to my house. But this time, they almost got aggressive as I can’t predict their next move.

I quickly left the house through the back door, dropped my boy with a neighbour, and took an Okada to Amotekun’s office for help.

I’m so glad that immediately I narrated my ordeal, they followed me to my house and got them arrested.

Also Speaking, the 52-years old Musa, the herder from Kastina State, regretted his action,

He said:

This is really a mistake for me. I have been living in Akure for over 30 years without having trouble with anyone.

I was not around when the incident occurred. It was my little boys that were undergoing training on how to become herders that misbehaved.

I was at Sabo area in Akure when it all happened. The younger one goes out with the senior while on training,

he said.

Confirming the arrest, the State Corps Commander of Amotekun, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said: “We got a distress call from a woman that her farm has been destroyed by herders and that her life was under threat.

Our response team moved immediately and we met the cows actually ravaging the farmland. We also met two under aged shepherds as this is clearly against the law put in place by the state government.

You would recall that the Ondo State Government banned under aged grazing and wanton destruction of food crops.

This is the reason we got them arrested knowing full well that their father will show up.

According to the corps, the children would be charged to juvenile court to face the law.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.