Three herders have been arrested for killing a 36-year-old farmer, Sunday Ayeni, in Ondo State after paying compensation for grazing on his farm and damaging his crops.
The suspects, Abdullah Halilu Tumbi (59), Mohamodu Adamu Bonkolo (50), and Shagari Muhammed (45), allegedly stabbed the farmer while he was working on his farm at Afiri Camp near Oka-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area.
The police have charged the suspects with conspiracy and murder. Police prosecutor, Folashade Adeyemi, told an Akure Chief Magistrate Court that the three herders and others still at large committed the crime on August 10, 2024.
Ms. Adeyemi said, “The defendants allegedly conspired with others at large to kill the farmer, Ayeni, by stabbing him with a cutlass while he was working on his farm.”
The charge reads: “That you, Abdullah Halilu Tumbi, Mohamodu Adamu Bonkolo, and Shagari Muhammed, and others at large, did stab one Ayeni Sunday ‘m’ during a clash with him on his farm with a sharp cutlass on his stomach, which eventually led to his death.”
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Sections 316, 319, and 324 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006.
The trial Magistrate, A. Akinboboye, did not take the pleas of the defendants. Instead, he ordered their remand at the Olokuta Correctional Centre in Akure, pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Magistrate Akinboboye also ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the DPP’s office. The case has been adjourned until December for mention.
Prosecutor Folashade Adeyemi urged the court to keep the defendants in custody at a correctional centre in the state until the DPP gives further advice on the matter.
