Herdsmen kill pastor in Ogbomoso, farm owner, family flee for their lives

By Tope Adesupe

Pastor Oluwasegun Solomon Adegboyega has reportedly been killed by people suspected to be herdsmen on Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun Farms owned by Mr. Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun (A business tycoon), where he was the Farm Manager in Gege Yaku, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The incident happened on the 29 January 2024, at about 11:00 am.

Pastor Segun Adegboyega, who was the Manager of AJOLAYO EZEKIEL OGUNSIYUN FARM, was killed when the gunmen traced him to the farm. According to the investigation, the chaos started on January 5, 2024, when the suspected herders allowed their cattle to graze on Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun Farm, which led to violence between the herders, farm operatives, and the Amotekun security operatives which were invited.

The herders, when being overpowered, fled with their cattle.

The case was later reported to the Police at Owode Police Station, Ogbomoso.

On 29 January 2024, Pastor Segun was attacked in the farm annex and killed.

It was revealed that the herders are major the major threats terrorizing the Farmers in that community; furthermore, the herders monitored the owner, Mr. Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun, his family and the Farm Manager (Pastor Segun Solomon Adegboyega) as their major target, but it was unfortunate that they got Pastor Segun.

To the public’s surprise, the house of Mr Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun in Ire Akari, Ogbomoso, was attacked in the midnight the same day during the early hours of 30th January, 2024, around 1:00am, Meanwhile, Mr Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun and his Wife were not around but they met his mother in-law Mrs Felicia Mojirade Oguntunde she living with them.

The herders destroyed the house before community guards exchanged gunshots with them and they were overpowered and fled.

According to the report, they intend to kill Mr Ajolayo Ezekiel Ogunsiyun and his family so that the land will be use for open grazing of their cattles.

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the killing, and they have been moved into the custody of the Owode Police headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, has appealed to the people of the town to remain calm over the incident.

As of press time, efforts to get police reactions were proved abortive, as Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso’s mobile number was not reachable.