Two underage cattle herders have been arrested for threatening a 70-year-old woman, Victoria Ajayi, with a cutlass around Kajola area of Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo state.
The minors were arrested by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps, along with their 52-year-old father, Ibrahim Musa, and 49 cows.
They were arrested for flouting the state government’s directive banning use of underage herders and harassing a septuagenarian with a cutlass.
Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Ajayi said she was informed by her grandchild that cows were on their farm and upon going out, she saw the young herders and an adult with the cows.
“That evening, I was resting after taking my drugs because I was under medication for hypertension. My little boy called and said there were cows in our farm. I saw a man standing afar, while the two little boys were with the cows.
“I asked them to call on their father as they gave deaf ears to my words and looked at me angrily. As I was trying to make the children understand they should take the cows out of my farm, one of them brought out cutlass and pointed it to my face. Then I knew I was in for a big trouble.
“I quickly called my little grandson and went inside and shut my door. They were there for hours as I watch the cows ate my vegetables, pepper and also watched how they dug my heaps of yams with their legs and eat my long awaited ready-to-be harvested yams.
“I quickly reached for my drugs because I have been managing high blood pressure for sometimes. I quickly took my boy and went out through the back door where they could not see me because I never knew their next move as we are alone in the house.
“The thought of renting another house occurred to me immediately because of the frequent herdsmen invasion with cows to my house. But this time, they almost got aggressive as I can’t predict their next move.
“I quickly left the house through the back door, dropped my boy with a neighbour and took an Okada to Amotekun’s office for help.”
My Little Boys Misbihaved While Undergoing Training
The boy’s father, Ibrahim Musa, who hails from Kastina State, described his action as a mistake, noting that he has lived in Akure for over 30 years and had never had trouble with any farmer.
“This is really a mistake for me. I have been living in Akure for over 30 years without having trouble with anyone.
“I was not around when the incident occurred. It was my little boys that were undergoing training on how to become herders that misbehaved.
“I was at Sabo area in Akure when it all happened. The younger one goes out with the senior while on training,” he said.
Amotekun Confirms Arrest Of Underage Herders
Commander of Ondo Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who confirmed the development, said his men responded to the distress call and met the cows ravaging her farm
“Our response team moved immediately and we met the cows actually ravaging the farmland,” Adeleye said.
“We also met two under aged shepherds as this is clearly against the Law put in place by the state government.
“This is the reason we got them arrested knowing fully well that their father will show up. The children would be charged to juvenile court to face the Law.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how some herdsmen took to their heels when Amotekun arrested over 100 cows and nine herders along Akure /ilesa highway in Ondo.
