From TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure( THE SUN NEWS PAPERS)

Two people died on Wednesday while a boy had his hand chopped off during a clash between herdsmen and soldiers from the 323 Air Defence Artillery Regiment, Owena Cantonment, Akure.

Also at a popular church situated along Akure-Idanre Road, a member of the church was reported to have lost one of his arms to another herdsman for daring to challenge him for bringing his cows to the church premises to graze.

A member of the church, who confirmed the incident, said the herdsmen had relocated from the areas to unknown destination after the incident for possible arrest or reprisal attack while the victim was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Akure.

Daily Sun gathered that the boy, who is a son of one of the soldiers, had accused the herdsman of bringing his cows to his father’s farm, which led to the destruction of crops and vegetables. An eyewitness said the boy had attempted to arrest the herdsman who in attempt to free himself, brought his cutlass and sever the right arm of the boy and escaped with the hand When the news got to the barracks, the soldiers mobilized themselves and organized a search party, which led them to the camp where the herdsmen were residing.

They asked for the man who cut the right hand of the boy. The head of the camp was reported to be shielding the man from arrest and this angered the soldiers who in the row that followed, drew out their guns and allegedly shot at them, which led to the death of two of the herdsmen.

The arrival at the scene by senior military officers, however, saved what could have led to serious crisis while the severed hand was recovered from the herdsmen.

The boy had been rushed to one of the government-owned hospitals. When contacted, the state police command said the matter had not been reported, but the Commanding Officer (CO) of the regiment, Lt. Col. Sam Nwanfo, confirmed that one of the herdsmen severed the right hand of a soldier’s son, adding that he was not aware that two of the herdsmen were shot dead.

“It was true that a herdsman chopped off a hand of a boy, who is a son of one of our men but we did not clash with Fulani herdsmen and we did not kill any herdsman, you can go to Fulani community and verify from their head,” the commanding officer said.

Few months ago at Ayedun area of Akure, a man lost his hand during a minor arguement between him and a Fulani herdsman. The Fulani man also ran away with the chopped off hand.

fulani should stop killing their fellow brothers,why running with their chop up hands?they are brothers they should hug one another...