Suspected Herdsmen Kill Four Local Hunters in Kwara

Hammed Shittu

No fewer than four local hunters were killed by suspected herdsmen on Tuesday night at Faje community in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The fourth victim, who sustained gunshot injury from the attack, died yesterday morning.

THISDAY gathered that five hunters were riding on two motorcycles before their alleged attackers pounced on them at about 7:00pm on a bush path few metres away to the village.

While the suspected herdsmen shot dead three of the hunters, two others escaped and ran back to the village to inform members of the community of the incident.

However, the alleged attackers were said to have bolted away with the hunters’ two motorcycles, abandoning their own bike.

According to a source in the village, “one of the motorcycles used by the attackers was recovered by the members of the vigilance team and had been deposited at the Otte Divisional Police station.”

Another member of the community also said that the suspected herdsmen had earlier abducted one of the hunters in the community.

The source said that the abducted villager raised the alarm by using his phone to call his colleagues to relate to them what had happened, including the location of the attackers.

“Then five of the hunters mobilised in two motorcycles to the place. But as they approached the vicinity, the herdsmen immediately opened fire on them killing three instantly on the spot who were on the first motorcycle. The deceased names are Muri, Segun and Laide. The other two on the other motorcycles sustained bullet wounds and one of them has been taken to the hospital for treatment while the other who was initially taken to a trado-medical home to remove the bullet later died this morning. The incident happened around 7pm Tuesday night and was preceded by sporadic shooting.

The state police command spokesperson, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the incident, saying that the command had commenced investigation into the matter to bring the perpetrators to book.