Police hold armed man over killing of farmer

The police in Ekiti are holding a man who was arrested with a rifle after the killing of a man at his farm in Ayegbaju Ekiti, Oye LGA of the state.

Residents had protested over the killing of Elijah Ogor by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Sources said Ogor, an indigene of Benue State, was killed in his farm located between Ayegbaju and Ido Ekiti on Wednesday and his farm was destroyed by cattle. A protester called Adeleye said he was shot at the back and died at his farm.

After the incident, the Seriki Fulani in Ekiti, Alhaji Abashe Adamu and the Ekiti chapter of the task force of Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), arrested one Umar Abubakar Sanda in Ayegbaju-Ido-Iludun farmland in connection with the death. Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, GAFDAN’S Secretary, Hon. Toyin Ibrahim, said: “We got the information from the Seriki Fulani that a farmer was killed in Ayegbaju. Our task force moved into the bush and arrested Umar Sanda. At the point we saw him, he was holding a rifle and with live cartridge inside. We queried the rationale behind the carrying of firearm which contravened the Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Law, but he gave no reason. He was just raising issues that would make him look innocent.

“We immediately took Sanda to the police station at Ido Ekiti where he was detained. Part of our mandate in GAFDAN is to arrest cattle rustlers and errant herdsmen who destroy farmlands or commit other offences”.

Ibrahim appealed to the government to empower the group to be able to carry out the mandate of ensuring harmonious relationship between farmers and Fulani herders.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said:

“He is presently being detained in our custody and once we conclude investigation, we will charge him to court.”