Fulani herdsman kills welder in Oyo

A 25-year-old welder has been killed by a Fulani man in his shop in the Sabo area of Orile-Igbon town in Oyo State after a fight broke out at a joint close to the deceased shop.

Eyewitnesses said the killer approached the victim, Joshua Adeniyi, who had just arrived at his shop from a naming ceremony on Saturday, and stabbed him in the chest, killing him before escaping from the scene.

Brother of the deceased, Timothy Adegboyega, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone, said while the suspected killer escaped, those who witnessed the killing arrested his friend who came with him.

Adegboyega said, “I trained Joshua in welding work and after he graduated, he started working with one of my former apprentices who has a shop close to the scene of the incident.

“On Saturday, he attended a naming ceremony and returned to the shop later in the evening. Beside the shop is a joint where youths play game and relax. Some Fulani men also patronise the place. From what we heard, the assailant was not provoked by my brother. 

Those who saw him said he was drunk when he approached my brother and stabbed him in the chest. Joshua died before he could reach a hospital. The killer escaped while people were trying to save the life of my brother, but his friend was apprehended.

“We have had cases of Fulani men fighting people with cutlasses and knives in this area. Anytime they have misunderstanding with our people, they use these weapons to injure our people. They terrorise our farmers in the farms and now they are coming to our town to continue their heinous crime.”

Mother of the deceased, Iyabo Adeniyi, said Joshua was the last of three children, calling on the police to ensure justice was served on his killer.

The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the crime, saying the suspect had been arrested.

He added that a full investigation, as directed by the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, was ongoing.