Suspected Fulani herder inflicts injuries on teenage boy, father

A suspected Fulani herder has inflicted serious injuries on a teenage boy and his father at Osuan forest in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to a source, the Fulani herder attacked Mr Goodhead Nation and his 18-year-old son, Samuel Nation, over his missing cow at the forest.

It was learnt that the unidentified herder attacked Samuel with a machete and inflicted serious injuries on his fingers and head.

Samuel’s 58-year-old father, Goodhead Nation, was said to have managed to escape further attack with heavy bruises on the left hand.

The attack was said to have resulted in Samuel undergoing four-hour surgery at the emergency wards of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, where he was rushed to after the deadly attack.

Narrating the incident, Goodhead Nation stated that the attack happened on Saturday evening while they were working on their palm farm.

Goodhead said the Fulani herder came through the back entrance of his farm and accused them of stealing his cow.

He said: “We told him we did not know anything about his missing cow. I asked him to look at us whether we looked like people who could kill a cow. He appeared adamant. After some seconds, he attacked me with his big stick.

“He later brought out his machete and chased my son. We later discovered my son by the riverside with heavy machete cuts on the head, waist and hand.”

Reacting, spokesman for the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ebilade Ekerefe, who visited the victim at the hospital, was unhappy over the incident, warning that he believed that the incident was an isolated one.

He said: “Let me say, this is not the first time the herdsmen’s incident has happened. But this is one incident too many. Considering the mood of the country, the Ijaw youths will not carry out reprisals. We believe it is an isolated attack. We do not want to believe that the attack was planned.

“We want to call on security agencies to arrest the culprit. If the culprit is not arrested, it will show that it was planned. The Hausa/Fulani community in Bayelsa should show sympathy with the victim by ensuring the culprit is arrested. We don’t want to pre-empt anyone. They should come out to exonerate themselves.

“Ijaw youths should brace up and defend their clans against any form of enemy attacks. The Ijaw youths should welcome peace-loving people and defend themselves against any form of threats.”

The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, confirmed the incident.

He appealed to the residents of the state to remain calm, saying that the command was working assiduously to identify the suspected herder and apprehend him.

A statement on Sunday by the command’s spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said: “On February 20, 2021 at about 0800hours, an unidentified herder at Osuan bush, Otuoke community, Ogbia LGA, assaulted one Kohgi Samuel Nation ‘m’ 18 years and inflicted grievous wounds on his fingers and head, over an allegation of a missing cow.

“The victim was immediately rescued by Police operatives and is responding to treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.”

He said investigation was ongoing.