By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA — Suspected herdsmen have reportedly invaded Ilewo-Orile community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, killing three persons and carting away huge sums of money and other valuables.

Two of the victims, identified as Amosun Ogunronbi and Owolabi Ogunronbi, were siblings, who had thrift saving, Esusu, money on them.

Vanguard learned that the third victim, simply known as Philip, was hacked to death on Friday night and his corpse discovered the following day.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the community had in the past come under similar attacks by rampaging herdsmen.

The source alleged that despite repeated complaints to the police and relevant authorities, nothing tangible had been done to curb the criminal activities of herdsmen in the area.

According to him, Philip was killed on Friday night after suspected herdsmen accosted him and snatched his motorcycle, mobile phone and money.

He said: “Philip is an Egun man. He went to work on Friday but did not return. When his wife was going to the market in Ibara-Orile on Saturday morning, she saw the dead body of her husband by the road side.”

The case was said to have been promptly reported at the Lafenwa Police Station, Abeokuta, and later at the state police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

It was learned that the victim’s family requested that they be allowed to bury their dead, which the police did not object to.

The source, who stated that the murder of the Ogunronbis occurred prior to the Friday incident, disclosed that the suspects carted away the victims’ motorcycle and cash, including daily thrift savings, otherwise known as Esusu.

The source added: “Amosun went to collect some thrift savings in Ishaga-Orile and he asked his brother (Owolabi) to convey him there with his motorcycle. When they were coming back, herdsmen attacked them at about 8:30p.m. and hacked them to death.

“Some commercial motorcyclists, who passed by later, saw Amosun’s lifeless body by the road side and raised the alarm.

“When we got to the scene with vigilante men, we saw the corpse and decided to trace his motorcycle. We discovered the remains of the younger brother in the bush. The herdsmen had removed his (Owolabi) trousers and stolen all the money.

“The family decided not to pursue the case. They said since they do not know the identity of the killers, they would prefer to leave the matter to God.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, at press time proved abortive.