…Baale Of Balogun Village Sustains Deep Cutlass Wound, Suspect On The Run
A community leader, Chief Oniyide Olubayo, the Baale of Balogun Village in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, was on Tuesday attacked and injured during a violent confrontation between farmers and Fulani herders near Ibese.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the traditional leader was returning from Ilaro when he met a group of farmers and herders engaged in a heated altercation by the roadside.
Eyewitnesses said Chief Olubayo, in an attempt to restore calm and prevent escalation, approached the groups to mediate. However, one of the herders allegedly turned on him, attacking him with a cutlass and inflicting a deep wound on his elbow.
“The Baale was only trying to make peace. Nobody expected the herder to attack him. It was shocking,” a community resident who witnessed the incident told PLATFORM TIMES.
The assailant was said to have fled the scene immediately after realizing the extent of the injury, leaving the wounded leader to be rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Local vigilantes and traditional leaders have reportedly begun a manhunt for the fleeing herder, while community youths have been urged to remain calm to prevent reprisal attacks.
Confirming the incident, a security source in Yewa North said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspect and restore peace to the area.
“Security agencies are aware of the incident, and steps are being taken to ensure that there’s no breakdown of law and order. The injured Baale is responding to treatment,” the source said.
The farmers–herders conflict has been a recurring security challenge in parts of Ogun State, particularly in Yewa axis, where clashes over farmland and grazing rights have frequently led to loss of lives and destruction of property.
Community leaders have repeatedly appealed to the state government to strengthen peace-building mechanisms and provide clear grazing regulations to prevent further confrontations.
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