Leaders of Ifon community in Ose local government area of Ondo State have kicked against the invitation of their four elders by the police over the alleged killing of a cow.

The leaders said it was surprising that the police were pursuing supposed killers of cows when it was yet to unravel those who killed their traditional ruler, the Oluifon of Ifon, Oba Isreal Adeusi.

They said the leaders invited were among those temporarily holding forth following the death of their Oba.

Recall GBETU reported how the Oluifon of Ifon, Oba Isreal Adeusi was shot dead in November 2020.

The first class traditional ruler was returning to Ifon from Akure after a meeting, Thursday, Nov 26, when he ran into a barricade set up by the kidnappers along Elegbeka area.

It was gathered that his driver attempted to maneuver his way to avoid the kidnappers but they shot at his vehicle.

The suspected killers were later apprehended by Ondo State Security Agency, Amotekun, as announced on December 2nd, 2020.

But then, Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said identity of the suspects would not be made public because of ongoing investigation into the killing.

He said the suspects, were arrested by a combine team of security operatives that stormed Elegbaka forest after the killing of the monarch.

President of the Ifon Development Union, Chief Femi Awani, who spoke at a briefing in Ifon said the police invitation was based on a petition by one herdsman, Abdulahi, who claimed one of his cow was killed in January 2021.

He mentioned the leaders invited to include Chief Ekon, Chief Olijewu, Hon Saliu Omotoso, Hon Olaniyi Eni-Olotu and Chief hunter of Ifon.

Chief Awani said another petition by one Alhaji Usman prompted the police to deploy men from the FIB Tactical Command Squad to ensure the invited leaders go to Abuja to answer to the petition.

Awani noted that the thrust of the petition to the Force headquarters was not only about killing of cow but alleged criminal conspiracy, threat to life and attempted kidnapping.

Chief Femi Awani explained that the town was under siege from herdsmen, who seemed to be taking advantage of the monarch death.

Awani said, “The menace of herders and bandits masquerading as herdsmen has been on the increase and our community, being largely agrarian, has been at the receiving end. The herders, as if the death of our monarch was an invitation to them, have invaded our farmlands and are having a field day.

“A few weeks back, farmers at Odogboro and Ugboke in Ifon were sent out of their farms when armed herders invaded their farms with their cows. All these have been going on unhindered and without question or check, at least, none of these dangerous herders has been brought to justice”

Expatiating, he said, “One Abdullahi went to the Ifon Police Station that our people killed his cows on January 6, 2021. This necessitated the DPO inviting some of our community leaders for questioning. Those invited denied killing the cows and confirmed to the DPO that the area of the reported incident was not on Ifon land. The matter was laid to rest.

“Unknown to our people, the matter did not end there. It was a matter of great surprise that barely one month after on February 4, 2021, the same leaders were again invited to the Ifon Police Station by the DPO. On getting there, two men in mufti were introduced to them as police officers from the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FIB Tactical Command Squad, Force Headquarters, SARS Building, Abuja.

“The policemen from Abuja told our community leaders that one Alhaji Usman, who is unknown to our people, petitioned the police authority in Abuja, which necessitated their coming for a peaceful resolution and invited them to Abuja.

“The policemen from Abuja then brought out pro forma of an already prepared and signed letter-invitation, which was there and then addressed to each of the invited leaders.”

He said what aroused curiosity was that the content of the letter inviting the leaders was at variance with verbal narration of the policemen from Abuja.

Chief Awani appealed to the IGP, Adamu Mohammed, to investigate the authenticity of the letter which they saw as a ploy to intimidate them and forestall attempts at protecting their land.

He wondered if the petition was not a ploy to release some herders who were arrested for kidnapping around the community.

“Once we are sure the letter is authentic, we will go to Abuja. We are law abiding citizens. The allegations are weighty. It is a painful thing to us. We would have been protesting but we are a peaceful people.”

The Aremo of Ifon, Adegoke Adeusi, said it was shameful that the police could not arrest killers of the Ifon monarch, but are chasing after supposed killers of a cow.

He asked: “who is to be arrested? Is it the killers of our Oba or those alleged to have killed cow?

”It is shameful. It is disgraceful. I was shocked when I heard that four of our leaders have been arrested to come and answer for the killing of a cow. It is total injustice.

“An Oba was killed and they are now talking about cow.”

In the same vein, a leader in the community, High Chief Joseph Ayayi said the place mentioned by the petitioner that the cow was killed belonged to another community.

”Where they killed the cow is not our land. They said we should go to Abuja to explain. We do not know anything about killing of cow.

”There was no fight. When they made investigation and saw that the place is not our land, they invited our hunters, but the herder could not identify them as those responsible.

“After a month later, they invited us and gave us petition forms to fill. Our names were not in the petition, but they gave us forms to fill,” he stated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Tee-Leo Okoro, claimed not to aware of the matter.

“I am not aware of the matter; I have to call the DPO of Ifon to confirm,” Ikoro stated.