Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Ibadan, Oyo State — Three farmers have appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan after being arraigned on charges related to the alleged killing of 33 cows at a herders’ settlement in the Akinyele area of Oyo State. The matter, which has drawn attention across the region’s agricultural and legal communities, underscores ongoing tensions between crop farmers and cattle herders in the southwest.
The trio — Rashidi Kareem (60), Dele Julius (41), and Musa Rasaki (65) — all residents of Kunbi Village in the Akinyele area, were formally charged with conspiracy and unlawful killing of livestock, offences that contravene sections of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000. Prosecuting counsel Sgt. Akeem Akinloye informed the court that the defendants allegedly conspired to kill the cows, which were valued at approximately ₦20 million and belonged to Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar and Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on 27 November 2025, when the group went to the herders’ settlement at Kunbi Village between 1:00 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. and slaughtered the cows. The prosecution told the court that although the animals had grazed on farmland earlier in the day, the farmers chose to return at night and kill them — an act deemed unlawful regardless of any prior crop damage.
At the arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts. In response, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Olabisi Ogunkanmi, granted each of the men ₦1 million bail, with two sureties in like sum each. She emphasised that at least one of the sureties must be a close relative of the respective defendant. The case has been adjourned to 19 January 2026 for continuation of trial proceedings.
The charges relate to long-standing conflicts in parts of Oyo State between crop farmers and cattle herders — often tied to the destruction of farmlands when livestock graze openly. Oyo authorities have been engaged in efforts to address these tensions through enforcement of anti-open grazing laws and prosecution of offences related to livestock management, although disputes persist in many rural and peri-urban communities.
Legal analysts note that this case highlights the delicate balance law enforcement must strike between protecting property rights and maintaining peace in agrarian settings where livestock and crop agriculture frequently intersect. They say the outcome of the prosecutions could influence future responses to similar clashes across the region, particularly as both farmers and herders seek lawful avenues to resolve disputes without resorting to violence.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments