Osun State Government on Sunday said it has evacuated and destroyed 17 cows and two sheep killed by thunder strike in Gaa Elesun Village, Iba, Osun State.
All the animals that died in the attack belonged to a herder called Ismaila Mohammed.
As many as 40 cows belonging to different herders in the village were said to be tethered to posts in the open space where the animals usually stayed, when the thunderstrike was heard in the settlement around 6:30pm on Friday.
However, only those owned by Mohammad died in the incident.
In a chat on Sunday, Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Abiodun Ajisefinni, who led a delegation that also included the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Lekan Badmus, to the scene of the incident, said the animals had been “evacuated and destroyed” to prevent epidemic.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Fulani Community in the state has pleaded with Osun State Government to come to the aid of the herder that lost animals to the lightning.
Speaking in Osogbo on Sunday, Seriki Fulani for the state, Oluwatoyin Suleiman, said the affected herder had lost all he laboured for over the years.
He also dismissed claims that Fulani herders were leaving the state as a result of the incident.
Suleiman said, “Fulani men are not leaving the state as a result of Friday’s incident.
“The movement of cows, cattle and other animals is a norm and practised by herders to find veritable locations to feed their animals.
“Although we are saddened by Friday’s incident, the state government has ensured that the affected animals were properly incinerated to avoid health and environmental hazard, while it should also look into the loss of the affected herder.”
The livestock were struck dead about 6.30 pm on Friday.
The animals, it was learnt, were tethered after grazing for some hours in the village when it started threatening to rain.
It was learnt that the herdsmen, who returned into their huts after the day’s work, suddenly heard a thunder and fled the village in commotion.
Speaking to our correspondent, Baale Fulani of Iba, Jimoh Soliu, said herdsmen in the area had been living in peace with their host community for several years without rancour.
He said apart from the animals that died, many others, as well as inhabitants of the village suffered shock.
Soliu said, “It happened around 6.30pm on Friday. We just returned to our village after grazing.
“We tethered the animals and our men had already retired to their huts because it was threatening to rain. Suddenly, we heard a thunder. We lost 17 cows and two sheep to the incident. Many of the animals in our herd also suffered shock.
“Many of our men also suffered shock. Some of them were just returning to life. It was a strange occurrence but we are not blaming anyone.”
Reacting to the incident, Eburu of Iba, Oba Adekunle Oyedeji, said people of Iba had over the years been living harmoniously with Fulani natives without any issue.
The monarch in a statement signed by his media assistant, Mr Bamigbola Michael, said, “The death of the cows belonging to the Fulani cattle herders living among us was a natural occurrence occasioned by a thunder that struck in the town.
“The cows were killed by thunder at Apala farm in the territory of Iba, the headquarters of Ifelodun Area Office. The community in collaboration with the leadership of the Fulani community is on top of the situation.
“The Eburu in Council has directed the owners of the cows to burn them to avoid epidemic in the town. The community is in peace and the people live peacefully with all non-indigenes including the Fulanis.”
The Osun State Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, Mr Deji Aladesawe, in an interview, said members of the group in the area had been directed to work with the inhabitants of the village to ensure the animals were evacuated to prevent epidemic.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has sent a delegation to the village.
His Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Abiodun Ajisefini, who led the delegation, commended the people of Iba for coexisting peacefully with the cattle traders of Fulani extraction in the community.
Delivering Oyetola’s message, Ajisefini said, “We are indeed sad about the unfortunate incident. Lightning is a natural phenomenon that we have no power or control over. The traders who suffered this loss are part of us, not strangers. I want to assure them of my support and indeed government’s support at a time like this.”
Punch
