EXCLUSIVE : Tension In Ogun As Fulani Herder Allegedly Hacks Palm Wine Tapper To Death Over Water Dispute

…50-year-old father of seven dies while being rushed to FMC, Abeokuta

Daud Olatunji

Tension has reportedly gripped Okebembe village in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State following the alleged killing of a 50-year-old palm wine tapper, Idowu Lanson, by a Fulani herder, identified as Abubakar Usman, over a disagreement involving water.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, reportedly happened when the deceased attempted to intervene in a fight between the suspected assailant and another resident, identified as Joseph Opeolu.

PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the disagreement, which was allegedly triggered by an issue involving water, escalated into a violent confrontation before Lanson, who was said not to have been initially involved in the dispute, attempted to separate the two men.

However, his intervention reportedly turned tragic when Usman allegedly attacked him with a machete, inflicting severe injuries on his abdomen.

A community source, Akinleye Ganiyu, who confirmed the incident to PLATFORM TIMES, said the victim sustained life-threatening injuries during the attack.

According to the source, Lanson was immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Imeko, for emergency medical attention but was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, due to the severity of his injuries.

He, however, died while being transported to the tertiary health facility.

The deceased, who reportedly died a few hours after the attack, was said to have left behind a wife and seven children.

Ganiyu disclosed that the killing had angered members of the Ohori community, raising fears of a possible reprisal attack and further breakdown of law and order.

He, however, said the intervention of community leaders and other stakeholders had helped to prevent the situation from escalating.

The source, who is the Vice Chairman of the Ogun West Senatorial Community Development Committee, said he intervened under the authority of the Onimeko of Imeko Kingdom to restore calm and prevent further violence.

He added that the situation was under control following interventions by community stakeholders.

Meanwhile, PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the suspected assailant had been taken into police custody in connection with the incident.

Efforts to obtain the Ogun State Police Command’s official position on the killing were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

The police spokesperson’s current rank could not be independently confirmed.

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