For attacking herdsman, Fayose orders arrest of seven Ekiti youths

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has ordered the immediate arrest of seven youths for allegedly attacking an herdsman, simply identified as Ibrahim and killing four of his cows.

He has also awarded N5m to the family of a teenager allegedly shot by one of the policemen deployed in Igogo Ekiti to quell a protest which erupted over a chieftaincy title.

Speaking shortly after meeting with leaders and some people of the town at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose directed the police to begin an immediate and thorough investigation into the two incidents.

It was gathered that the youths shot four of the herdsman cows dead and threatened to throw him into a river.

Fayose said, “I have ordered for immediate arrest and detaining of those seven people because we have established that they went with many others to attack an herdsman and killed four of his cows.

“That is an act of criminality which would not be condoned by our government. If we can jail herdsmen for violating the anti-grazing Law of the state, we would not hesitate from punishing our people who illegally and unjustly attack any herdsman in our community.

“Nigeria is one and we must ensure our unity. The herdsmen and our people have equal rights on our soil, no one should attack or harass them.”

The governor added that he had also ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstance that led to the death of the teenager.

“We will get to the root of these. We have also awarded a sum of N5m to the deceased family so as to cushion the effect of their grievous loss,” he said.