Tension gripped Roro village, Mile 8, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State after the body of a missing cattle herder was discovered in a shallow grave. The discovery followed days of search efforts involving police officers, hunters, and community members, amid fears of a possible Fulani herder reprisal.
Community leaders had proposed an oath-taking ritual to reveal the truth within seven days, but before the process began, a farmer and hunter identified as Taiwo Amos confessed to the crime.
The Confession
Amos, a widower and father of three, said he visited his farm on September 2 after church service to check traps he had set for animals. There, he encountered a lone herdsboy tending cattle.
According to his confession, he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to attack.
“I came back from church and went to check on my trap. From a distance, I saw the herdsboy, and a thought just came to my mind, telling me to go and kill him. I hurried after him and killed him. It was after that I saw the cows scatter,” he admitted.
When asked if the cows had destroyed his crops or provoked him, Amos said neither the herdsboy nor the cattle had wronged him.
“He didn’t offend me at all. Even his cows did not eat my crops,” he said.
Why He Confessed
Amos said he decided to admit to the killing out of fear of the proposed community oath and the consequences it might have for his family.
“They suggested that everyone should take an oath, and within seven days the truth would come out. Out of fear, I confessed to the hunters that I was responsible. That was when I was taken to the police station,” he explained.
Initially, Amos claimed he lied to police investigators, saying he acted because he thought the boy was a thief. However, he later retracted that statement and admitted the truth, saying he did not want innocent people to suffer the curses of his false accusation.
How He Buried the Victim
The suspect further confessed to mutilating the herdsboy’s body during the burial.
“I cut his legs because I was tired from digging the ground. I buried him that way. Nobody assisted me in killing or burying him,” he said.
Plea for Mercy
Amos insisted he acted alone and begged the government for leniency.
“I want the government to please have mercy on me. I am a first-time offender,” he pleaded.
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed that investigations are ongoing, while the community remains tense following the gruesome discovery.
source: linda ikeji
