A local hunter simply identified as Sunday, who is also said to be the child of the head of hunters in Ayepe in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, was on Monday killed by suspected cattle rustlers.
PUNCH Metro exclusively gathered that Sunday, who was just hired by the owner of the cattle, was killed on the very first day he would be working to provide security for the herd of cattle around a farm said to be between Ayepe and Sagamu.
A resident of the community who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the incident said that the owner of the cattle had recently suffered an attack, after which he decided to hire the deceased to help provide security for the cows.
The source said, “The deceased is the son of the head of the local hunters in Ayepe. He was just hired by the owner of the cattle because these criminals had recently attacked those helping the man to take care of the Unfortunately, the very first night he resumed work for the man, these hoodlums attacked the hunter and shot him to death while they escaped with the cows.
“The incident really brought so much sorrow to our community because the father of this young man is sick, and he was the one taking care of his father.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the killing of the local hunter, adding that the command had equally recovered eight cows from the rustlers and had also launched a manhunt against the perpetrators.
Babaseyi said, “The Ogun State Police Command has launched an intensive operation following an incident of cattle rustling and the killing of a local hunter in the Aiyepe area of Odogbolu Local Government Area.
“Upon receiving the report, operatives of the Odogbolu Division, working in collaboration with community security groups and local hunters, swiftly mobilised to the affected area and carried out extensive bush-combing operations aimed at apprehending the perpetrators and recovering the stolen livestock.
“The sustained security operation has recorded a significant breakthrough, leading to the recovery of eight out of the twelve rustled cattle.
“The remains of the deceased hunter have been evacuated to the General Hospital, Odogbolu, for preservation and autopsy.”
