At least six herders were killed when gunmen raided a settlement in Wasinmi village, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, on Saturday night.
According to media reports, it was gathered that immediately the gunmen stormed the settlement, they opened fire, killing six herders on the spot adding that those killed were members of the same family.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Osun, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the tragic incident, saying investigation is ongoing.
She said the Commissioner of Police in the State, Wale Olokode, had moved to the village and Police detectives are currently hunting the perpetrators of the act.
Although the killers were yet to be identified, a respondent said the sad event was part of ethnic cleansing against Fulani in Southern Nigeria, even as he said the Christian Association of Nigeia (CAN), which started it, should be held responsible while Sunday Igboho be held to answer questions “except security agents want to pretend not to know what is happening”.
The state PPRO described the incident as unfortunate and vowed that the culprits would be arrested and brought to book.
The development came one week after four Fulani herdsmen were shot dead during the invasion of a settlement in Ogborji, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), South-East Zone, said many cows were stolen in the attack.
Siddiki added that over 20 herdsmen have been killed in Anambra alone from January to March, 2021.
