Akure—Survivors of the massacre by herdsmen in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, have narrated their ordeal.
Recall that some bandits invaded and sacked four communities in the council, killed 20 persons.
The four attacked communities were Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, Ademekun Camp and Aba Alajido Camp within Ala Elefosan.
According to the survivors, the bandits who they described as armed herders stormed the community in the dead of the night unprovoked.
They said that many residents were injured during the attack, and are presently on admission at different hospital while the communities have been deserted.
According to them, many of the residents fled into the forest.
Speaking with newsmen at the hospital, two siblings, John and Solomon Simon, who were shot during the attack at Sunday camp, said they escaped by whiskers.
The survivors who are recuperating from bullet wounds and on admission provided insights into what happened during the attack.
John Simon, who was shot in one of his hands, said: “At least nine bodies were recovered after the attack. The bandits operated unchallenged and without mercy.
“I was sleeping when I heard gunshots. It was when I suddenly woke up that I realised that the person who was sleeping beside me had already been shot.
“It was in the process of trying to escape that I was shot in the hand. I was able to run into the bush before entering a cocoa plantation where I was able to hide till daybreak.
John added: “I struggled with the hand that was shot, and I made it back in the morning, where I was quickly rushed to the hospital. Nine people were killed in our camp.
“Those that I saw were Fulani people. This is my fourth year in Sunday Camp, and we have never, for once, killed any of the cows belonging to Fulani people, so, we did not understand the reason for the attack.”
His brother, Solomon, while narrating his ordeal said: “The attack happened about 2a.m. I was not deep asleep.
“They made a very loud call before they opened fire all round the camp. I summon courage to flee the house before they could get to my place. But two of my friends did not make it as well as they were killed in the house.
“They are herdsmen. We were able to retrieve nine bodies.”
Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, who visited the scene of the attack and the surviving victims, has ordered the deployment of the command’s homicide department to the area.
