Framing Attack on Soyinka’s Land An Attempt To Incite Trouble — Sani

Former Nigerian Senator, Shehu Sani has condemned the rumoured attack on the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka’s land by a Fulani herdsman.

The writer via his verified Twitter handle and described the rumour as an attempt to incite inter-ethnic strife between the Yoruba and the Fulani people of Nigeria

He said, “Those who faked the herdsmen attacks on Professor Soyinka’s land were simply aiming to incite and stoke inter-ethnic strife.”

A Fulani herdsman identified as Awwalu was arrested by the police in Ogun State for grazing his cattle on the premises of the Nobel Laureate in Ijegba Estate in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Three of Awwalu's 23 cows reportedly strayed into the Estate located around Ajangboun in Kemta-Idi-Aba in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

One of the children of the literati and former Commissioner of Health in Ogun State, Olaokun Soyinka in a statement issued on Wednesday confirmed the incident.

However, he disproved the rumour going round in a viral video clip on the social media that his father's estate was attacked by Fulani herdsman.

His reaction was to douse the tension in the area that his octogenarian father had been attacked by a Fulani herdsman.

“I have confirmed that while cows did stray onto his land yesterday, there has been no attack, no violence and no attempt to enter the house,” he said.

It was reported that the professor was around and was about going out when the incident happened.

He was said to have invited the police to arrest the herdsman who allowed his herds to stray into his estate.

It was also gathered that the Nobel Laureate led the police to search for the herdsman, who had run away shortly after his herds strayed into the compound.

An eye witnessed who did not want his name to be known said the incident occurred around 2 pm on Tuesday.

According to him, “I was around Baba’s (Professor Soyinka’s) house, I saw 20 cows inside the premises of Baba (Professor Wole Soyinka). They were drinking from the stream inside his compound.

“I used stones to disperse them; I didn’t know Baba was already coming in his car. Baba met us there and his driver stopped the car and used the car to block them.”

The owner of the cow, Kazeem Sorinola, while speaking with newsmen, disclosed that he hired the herdsman to help him rear the cows within the area where Soyinka estate was located.

Sorinola said, “I am Kazeem Sorinola, I hired Awwalu to help me rear my cattle. What happened was that yesterday, suddenly, he called me that a cow was missing. Because of the situation, he abandoned the rest and they strayed. As he was redirecting them, they strayed into Baba Soyinka’s house.

“I later saw Baba Soyinka with policemen searching for the herder. I took the herder to the police station and we have found the missing cow. The herder was not armed. I have 23 cows, only one missed and we have found it.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, also confirmed the incident.

According to Ajogun, contrary to the claims that the Fulani herdsman invaded Soyinka’s house, the cows were owned by a Yoruba man.