Enoch Oyedibu
In what appeared to be a sordid act, Ogbomoso-based Evangelist Segun Adegboyega was gruesomely murdered by Fulani herdsmen after he complained about their use of animals to graze his farm yard.
The dastardly act occurred last Monday at the Evangelist’s residence in the Gege area, a village on the outskirts of Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The victim was stabbed six times before succumbing.
Evangelist Adegboyega, in his 40s, woke up on Monday seemingly healthy. He took his children to school that morning and participated in a crusade at Arowomole, concluding Sunday evening.
PLATFORM TIMES confirmed through authoritative investigation that the farm yard, a minuscule one, was located behind the late Evangelist Adegboyega’s house in Gege. The herdsmen were known to him since their settlement (Gaa) was nearby.
A source informed Platform Times, “The man took his children to school that morning. Later, the Fulani herdsmen came to his backyard farm to graze, and he came out to confront them, asking, ‘Why are you destroying my crops?'”
“As he turned his back to access his house, one of the herdsmen dashed after him, stabbing him from behind. The attack was sudden, and he couldn’t have anticipated such a fatal response to his innocent check on the farm destroyers.
The dagger went straight into his body, piercing through, with the blade emerging through the stomach. The killer continued thrusting the dagger into him at different parts. He lost a significant amount of blood before help arrived.”
Despite being rushed to the hospital, it was too late.
Subsequently, residents mobilized, found, and overpowered the killers in the bush, taking them to the palace for justice.
The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, assured justice in his reaction to the incident. Three herdsmen, including those at the scene, and their alleged boss were arrested.
… Police Arrest Suspects as Wife Identifies Husband’s Killer
The wife of the slain Evangelist, Segun Adegboyega, identified the killer in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to a family source, the wife and child, accompanied by family members and friends, formally reported the act and identified the killer among the four already arrested.
“The four suspects were shown to her, and she pointed at the Fulani herdsman who allegedly struck her husband with the dagger,” the source said.
The prime suspect, identified by the wife and child, was arrested in Ogbomoso High School area while the original three suspects were being transferred to Ibadan on Tuesday.
The police urged the family to conduct an autopsy before prosecuting the suspects, creating financial challenges.
According to the Ogbomoso Insight Newspaper, drama ensued during the suspects’ transfer to Ibadan.
At Ogbomoso High School area, the three suspects pointed at a lone Fulani man walking by the roadside, identified as the “real killer,” and he was promptly arrested.
The owner of the herd, not part of the herders, was also arrested by Gege residents who launched a manhunt immediately after the incident.
Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, addressed the people, assuring proper police investigations and unbiased justice.
“My condolences go to the families of the deceased Pastor. Our people should understand the brute animal instinct in an average Fulani man, especially when he perceives a threat to his animals’ survival.
Regardless of the number of years you may have been living in the same community with the Fulani, when there is a conflict involving their herds, they prefer to take a life to protect their interest in the animals.
“Some of them are hirelings, and it’s disheartening to note that the real owners of the herds are our own people. Indigenous cattle owners should be compelled by the government to ranch their cattle. I think there is an extant law that bans open grazing. This law should be enforced and given teeth.”
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