Suspected herdsman on Monday afternoon reportedly attacked and kidnapped four butchers, killing two of the victims, while one other escaped but was injured in Ajadusi community in Ala town in Akure North local government area, after luring them to come over for cow business.
It was gathered that the four butchers were lured to the area by the suspected kidnappers to come and buy cows but the suspected kidnappers intercepted them and opened fire on them, taking three of the four butchers away.
The lucky butcher, Nasiru Jamiu who was macheted by the hoodlums said he managed to escape from the scene of the incident after the hoodlums swooped on them and started shooting sporadically.
He said the hoodlums descended on him, macheting him on the head but took to his heels while the other butchers were captured and led into the bus.
The only butcher who escaped and now receiving treatment at a popular hospital in Akure said the kidnappers were heavily armed and operated without any hindrance.
He said “we were invited by the herders to come over to transact business with them but when we got there, they started shooting and beating us but I managed to escape from the scene.
Jamiu, the only surviving victim explained that the herdsmen lured them into the bush before they perpetrated their evil act.
He said “ The Fulani people that use to sell cows to my boss called him to come and buy cows. Though he had been selling cows to him before, but it has been long before they both transacted business.
“We first went to the place on Saturday but the place was a long journey and my boss asked us to come back that he did not feel like going but the guy kept disturbing him and convinced him that they would bring the cows to a nearby village.
“So when he was called yesterday, they told us that some people would come and meet us at Ala town before we would proceed to where the cows were kept.
On getting to Ala, they asked us to park our vehicles so that they could move the cows to the main road and they entered into the bush while four of us were waiting beside the vehicle.
“Surprisingly they returned with guns and started shooting to the air. They kidnapped my boss and dragged him to the bush and three of us tried to run for our lives but as I was macheted, I fell and pretended to have died.
“When I later realised no one was there again and I discovered that I was still alive, I managed to stand up and tried to find my way to a nearby village.
“I am sure that they kidnapped and took away my boss but I don’t know the whereabouts of the other two of us, we still don’t know their whereabouts till now. Maybe they later kidnapped them too.”
But the remains of two butchers were later found in the bush after a search party which included the butchers union and a team of police from the state command.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, while confirming the incident said one of the victims, who was macheted on the face, reported the incident at the Ala police station.
Odunlami said the police from the command raced to the scene of the incident while the victim was rushed to the General hospital for treatment.
According to her, two of the three butchers kidnapped were found dead and their remains were found in Tafa camp within the Ala forest reserve by men of the state police, while efforts are still ongoing for the third victim.
She said that those who perpetrated the act have contacted the unit of butchers associations confirming that the kidnapped butcher is still with them and alive.
Odunlami said, “Information revealed that the butchers were going to the reserve with a Diana truck to purchase cows all the way from Akure.
“The butcher that was macheted on his face and was found groaning in pain at the camp when police raced to the scene. The victim was rushed to General Hospital for treatment and later taken to Police Hospital Akure for further treatment and he is recuperating.
“Investigation has begun towards arresting the culprits and as well to rescue the victim.”
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