Police Arrest Man for Killing Fulani Herdsman

Parade wife who set husband ablaze, destroyed his manhood

Olakiitan Victor The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a 30-year old man, Mr. Moses Ofega, for allegedly killing a Fulani herdsman.

Ofega, who is being detained at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti, had made confessional statement that he shot at the Fulani man by mistake after they engaged in a bout over the destruction of his farm by the deceased’s cattle.

The alleged murder was committed at Iyemero Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on March 4.

The suspect was paraded alongside a 36-year old woman, Mrs. Ogidiolu Bukola, who allegedly set her husband ablaze on February 14 after damaging his body, particularly his manhood.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, told journalists that members of the Fulani community in the town reported the alleged murder at the police station before detectives took all the necessary actions to get Moses arrested.

The PPRO revealed that the suspect allegedly killed the herdsman in the bush and poured charcoal on him and set him ablaze in an attempt to cover his track.

Adeyemi said detectives from the state Criminal Investigations Department (CID), had to trace Moses, who had fled into the bush after committing the offence before he was apprehended.

At the police headquarters, Moses told journalists that, “I didn’t kill him intentionally. I went to the farm that day because I am a hunter. When I saw that my farm had been destroyed, I had to challenge him and in the course of wrestling with him, my gun fired and hit him.”

The PPRO said the suspect wasbeing investigated and would be charged to court soon.

Commenting on the woman that allegedly set her husband on fire, the police spokesman said information at his disposal revealed that the suspect committed the offence because certain disagreements.

However, during interrogation, Mrs. Ogidiolu said she got married to her husband, who is now receiving treatment at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital three years ago with no child and this she said caused the row between him and her critically injured husband.

But rumour had earlier filtered into town that the suspect allegedly poured petrol on her husband because he refused to take her out on Valentine Day, fondly called lover’s day.

“We had disagreement over his non-challant attitude towards my barrenness that day and we were fighting. Our neighbours tried to plead with him but he never listened to them.

“He later ran inside and destroyed all my property. But he had forgotten that we had petrol inside and when he was about lighting his cigarette, the keg that contained the petrol exploded and my husband caught fire immediately”.

The police said investigations are on-going into her claim, saying she would be charged to court after the conclusion of their findings.