MYSTERY THUNDER KILLS 36 COWS IN ONDO…COMMUNITY SAYS ITS FALLOUT OF HERDSMEN DESECRATION OF SACRED SHRINE

Penpushing further reports that, a High Chief in the town, the Sapetu of Ijare, Chief Wemimo Olaniran, said the Fulani herders were the ones who came to the palace to report the case and described the incident as the act of God which no one could query, saying the place is sacred to the Ijare people.

“We were there this morning and we saw about 36 cows dead apart from the one inside the bush. It has happened and there is nothing we can do about it, we regard it as the act of God which nobody can be query.

“There have been occasions like that before, but not as massive as we are having it now. Some individuals who desecrated the land in the past did witness thunderstorm attack.When you desecrate any part of Ijare, particularly the sacrifice places, the grove, such incident would happen so we don’t allow any person to go there.”

‘Owa’(sacred place) is normally visited once in a year by the Olujare, and he would stay there for a whole day to perform some traditional rites. During the period, no individual is allowed to go there, he said.

“Five days before this time, we learnt that Fulani men were there carrying wood to build their tents, but to our surprise, 36 cows died immediately when the thunders struck. It is a sign that gods that are there don’t want anybody to move to that place and settle down there. The place is not meant for any ordinary person, even Kabiyesi himself goes there once in a year and there is a way he will compose himself when he goes there.”

The Chief further speaking narrated an “unforgettable incident” many years ago when an Olujare went up the hill and never returned, saying he was buried there alive, “So we don’t encourage people to mount that hill and nobody can touch the dead cows, even Fulani people that we met there said it was thunderbolt attack,” he said.

“They even told us that if we see anybody that has interest should go there and take away the cows and we said no that it is a taboo for anybody to touch anything there. The dead cows will be there forever, it is part of the history in our land for people to see as testimony in future that such a thing happened. A whole Oba buried there alive and heaven did not fall talk less of ordinary cows.

“When it happened, I and some chiefs went to the police station to make official report, DPO even came to the palace and we explained to him that it is the act of God and he confirmed that it was thunderbolt attack that it wasn’t the handwork of human beings.”

Penpushing also reports that, the Ondo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, affirmed that the strange incident occurred, but posited that, it was a natural disaster that nobody could do anything about.

“Yes, I can confirm that it happened. It was a natural disaster that is beyond any human comprehension, It has happened and there is nothing we can do about it”, he said, adding tha the Fulani herders also acknowledged that the incident was a disaster beyond their control and not the work of any person.