Akure (Precise Post) – No fewer than thirty-six cows were reportedly struck dead by lightning on Saturday night on top of a sacred hill in Ijare community of Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The incident which turned the hill, ‘Oke Owa’ located at the outskirt of the community to a tourist centre as people within and outside the community trooped out in their numbers to catch a glimpse of what happened.
It was gathered that the cows were being led to the hilltop regarded as sacred groove by some Fulani herdsmen when the incident happened.
A source informed that there was heavy rain accompanied by the thunder which shook the whole community, describing the incident as the wrath of gods on the herdsmen.
He noted that herdsmen and their cows had desecrated the sacred groove which is forbidden in the town, disclosing that the Fulani herdsmen had been occupying the hilltop for the past five days.
He said the Fulani herdsmen had been warned by some chiefs in the town to stay off the groove before the incident happened on Saturday night.
According to him, only the king of the town and some chiefs are allowed to visit the hill just once a year during the celebration of the new yam festival to perform some rituals.
He, however, said the repeated sound of thunder at the hilltop made the residents suspect that the gods are angry and were not surprised to learn about the development on Sunday morning.
He said nobody never knew the thunder had caused such havoc until a hunter who was on hunting expedition found the 36 dead cows on the mountain top.
The report of the hunter made the traditional ruler of the town, the Olujare of Ijare, Oba Adegbamigbe Oluwagbenigun to delegate chiefs to make report to the police and to also go to the scene to assess what has happened.
A visit to the hilltop by our correspondent to confirm the incident, and found 36 dead cows lying on the ground without any mark on their bodies.
There were also indication that the Fulani herdsmen were trying to settle on top of the hill as there was a shed under construction with tubers of yam and pepper on the ground.
Speaking with journalists, the Olujare of Ijare, who spoke through his second in command, the Sapetu of Ijare, Chief Wemimo Olaniran, described the incident as wrath of the gods.
He frowned over the destruction of farmlands in the area by Fulani herdsmen and their cows, saying the community had been warning them while it had led to open confrontation on many occasions.
Olaniran said the residents noticed the Fulani herdsman ascending the hill which is about 30 minutes from the town some five days ago after destroying most of the farmlands and they were warned about the implications.
“We were there this morning and we saw about 36 cows dead apart from the one inside the bush. It has happened and there is nothing we can do, we regard it as the act of God which nobody can be a query.
“There are occasions like that but not as massive as we are having it now, to some individuals who desecrated the land. In the past we did witnessed thunderbolt attack when you desecrated any part of Ijare particularly the sacrifice places, the groove.
“The dead cows will be there forever it is part of the history in our land for people to see as testimony in future that such things happen, a whole Oba buried was there and heaven did not fall, talk less of ordinary cows.
“Oke Owa is a sacred hill where the Oba and some of his chiefs visited once a year during new yam festival to offer sacrifices on behalf of the community.
“Even those Chiefs accompanying the Oba must not go to the inner part of the hill because there is a particular place where only the Oba have to enter and spend a night.
“This is a hill that the herdsmen wanted to desecrate with their herds. It is a taboo. When we heard about the incident, we invited the herdsmen and they confirmed that it was lightning that struck the cows.
“We went to the police station to report the matter and the Divisional Police Officer was contacted before Chiefs including me went there.
“Those cows would remain there and rotten because nobody must touch them otherwise there would be a problem.”
The Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Ondo State, Alhaji Garuba confirmed the development and said the cows belong to one Ladam who is based in Kwara State but came to Ondo State not quite long.
Confirming the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph, said the matter has been reported at Ijare Police Station.
Joseph described the incident as a natural disaster that is unfortunate and which nobody can do anything about.
