Family Declares Man Missing After Fulani Herdsmen Launched Attack On House, Community

Scene after the assailants attacked Omotayo's residence

ABEOKUTA - A middle age man, Mr. Dada Pascal Omotayo has been declared missing by friends and relatives after some suspected Fulani Herdsmen ransacked his house and community located in Alagada village, under Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun State.

According to a Police report, the victim had reported at the station at 08:00hours on March 23, 2021 about threat to his life by unknown people.

The police said the victim reported that, some yet-to-be identified gunmen laid ambush for him at the early hours of the fateful day and tried to attack him while going to work in his private car, but narrowly escaped.

A family source who preferred anonymity, said, the unknown assailants with anonymous letters first attacked the victim's residence on November 3, 2020, destroyed lock to his house gate and broke part of the fence to gain access into Mr. Dada's compound.

The source added that, the incident occurred barely two weeks Omotayo revealed to the local vigilantes the hideout of the killer Fulani herdsmen in the community.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS recall that, the Fulani herdsmen were chased away from their settlement in Igangan, under Ibarapa local government area of Oyo state by the popular activist, Sunday Adeyemo otherwise known as Sunday Igboho.

After being chased away, the herdsmen have relocated to many South West states including Ogun state.

The family source claimed that, the attack may not be unconnected to the victim's revelation of the Fulani herdsmen hideout in Alagada village.

According to the police, the herdsmen had written different threat letters to the victim, vowing to deal with him for exposing them to local vigilantes and community chiefs.

On July 23, 2021, the unknown assailants stormed the private residence of the victim again, shooting sporadically, but for mother luck, the victim was away on official assignment.

When our reporter visited the scene, it was observed that, the whole building was ransacked with some valuable belongings of the victim damaged beyond repair.

Confirming the attacks, a High Chief in the community, who declined to mention his name for fear of the unknown, said the community regretted the incident and have reported the case to the police to beef up security around the community.

According to him, "I'm sorry, I may not be able to mention my name because they might come after me too. But the truth of the matter is, these people are deadly, what we have established is that, they are the Fulani herdsmen because when the local vigilantes busted their hideout after Omotayo informed the community head, these unwarranted incidents re happening in our community.

The disorganized situation of the aftermath the attack

"But we have reported the case to the police and I believe the victim too must have make his situation known to the authority concerned. We pray God replenish his loss."

Meanwhile, following the two separate attacks, the 43year-old father of three has gone AWOL without anyone knowing his whereabout.

When contacted, the anonymous family member hinted that, since the unfortunate attack, Mr. Dada has relocated with his family to unknown destination.

He added that, his two mobile lines have remained switch off since his disappearance.