Eight men appeared before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile Ife, on Thursday for chasing four cows until the animals fell into a deep pit and died.

But the defendants, Ayodele Jide, Akinyode Timothy, Akinsanwo Najeem, Akinola Abiodun, Samuel Oladeyin, Sunday Ejembi, Fadayo Akinniyi and Adereti Temitope, pleaded not guilty to the four-count pressed against them.

While addressing the court, the Prosecutor, Emmanuel Abdullahi, said defendants committed the offence on March 13, 2020, at Erefe area, Ile-Ife.

He added that the defendants ran after four cows belonging to one Adamu Suleiman with the intent to harm them, and made the animals fell into a deep pit.

He said the fell resulted in the death of the cows, adding that the defendants also unlawfully maimed the animals valued N720,000.

According to him, the action of the defendants was likely to cause an inter-tribal war between the Fulani herdsmen and villages under Ile-Ife.

The offences he said contravened Sections 249(d), 390(9), 450 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

Counsel to the defendants, Muri Agboola, applied for bail on behalf of his clients, with a promise that they would produce reliable sureties.

Magistrate Joseph Owolawi committed the defendants to the bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties.

He then adjourned the matter to May 15, for hearing.