Residents of Asa-Iselu in Yewa North Local Government area of Ogun State southwest Nigeria woke up on Thursday, 10 June 2010, to experience coordinated attacks from invaders suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaving many dead and injured people in their trail.
Eyewitness accounts told this newspaper that there had been one attack too many from these Fulani herdsmen, but the latest one on that fateful Thursday was too much for the Asa-Iselu people to bear.
“This attack happened in the early hours of Thursday when many people were in their deep sleep. These evil people really caught us unaware as we did not prepare for an attack during this period.
“The village head, Chief Ajanaku Adelani, was badly hit as he lost his two sons: Adedeji and Olaitan Ajanaku. This was an experience we will live to remember because the harmless people were helpless in the midst of these monsters who came for the purpose of maiming and killing,” said the eyewitness who begged for anonymity.
It was also gathered that one of the high chiefs in the community, Chief Akin Odule was killed, also was a prominent figure in the town, Chief Adegbite Ikuesan, scores of other people were injured, among whom was Olusola Solomon Osagie who was reportedly beaten into the state of coma because the assailant suspected him to be a bisexual.
This sexual orientation is viewed as a sin by the religious practice of these Fulani herdsmen and anybody engaging in it is guilty of death.
Apart from Osagie, other people who this newspaper got their names as being injured during the attack Orisabunmi Aliyu, Kikelomo Taiwo, Saheed Akinkunmi, Majeed Oyedele, Fatima Akindele and a host of others.
Though the police could not give the official figures of those who were dead during the attack, this newspaper learnt that more than 50 people might have lost their life, while over 100 residents were injured.
“The police could not come to our rescue because they too were helpless. The divisional police station in this town is not equipped with personnel and logistics. It was so sad. Even before now, many reports of Fulani herdsmen have been lodged at the police station with nothing coming out of it,” the witness said.
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