ABEOKUTA – The whereabout of Dada Ajibola, the Chairman of the Ashipa Ijeja Soyoye Community, in Abeokuta area of Ogun state has remained unknown several months after suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked the community.
Ashipa Ijeja Soyoye Community in Abeokuta of Ogun state was attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen on February 23, 2022.
The suspected herders in large numbers reportedly invaded the community, and were shooting sporadically.
About 22 residents lost their lives, many were abducted and the herders reportedly set ablaze cars and houses in the community.
Ajibola, a 45-year-old resident of the community was among the few that escaped unhurt after people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the community in the wee hours of February 23, 2022.
While many residents lost their lives in the incident, the herders also reportedly set ablaze cars, houses and abducted many people living in the community.
Eyewitness accounts said Ajibola was able to flee the scene by jumping the fence alongside his wife, Temitope Ajibola, and daughter, Oluwanifemi Ajibola.
The source, however, said two sons of the CDA chairman identified as Oluwatosin Ajibola, 13, and Michael Ajibola, 10, were kidnapped by the herdsmen because they couldn’t jump the fence during the attack.
One of the victims kidnapped by the herders who was released after a ransom was paid on April 18, 2022 told police that, the assailants are requesting the community chairman’s phone number.
The victim told journalists at the police headquarters that the two sons belonging to the CDA chairman have been killed by the suspected herdsmen.
He said, “We were taken from one bush to another. Those people that kidnapped killed many of the victims, especially those whose families couldn’t pay the ransom.
“Unfortunately, two sons of the CDA Chairman that were kidnapped were killed by the herdsmen. They said they were toddlers and their cries were disturbing them.
“They slaughtered them and dump their lifeless bodies inside a nearby river. It was a bad experience that I don’t want to remember.”
Addressing journalists while presenting the released victim to the press, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, vowed to intensify efforts to release other victims from the kidnappers’ den.
Oyeyemi urged members of the public to give useful information to the police that may lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Mr. Ajibola remains unknown.
But Police said they would continue to track his mobile number.
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