A Fulani herder has fled after stabbing a landlord identified as Donald Pepple for complaining that cows were messing up his compound in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
According to SaharaReporters, the herder always passed through Pepple’s compound with his cattle, leaving the animals to eat crops, defecate all over the place and also mess up washed clothes spread on the line.
The landlord was said to have warned the herder not to bring his cattle into the place anymore.
Defying that warning, the Fulani cattle rearer on Tuesday morning invaded Pepple’s compound again, prompting the man to protest in anger.
The herder reacted angrily, first hitting the victim on the head with a stick believed to be laced with charm before going on to stab the landlord multiple times in his head and other parts of his body.
The herder fled the scene shortly afterwards, leaving behind 20 cows, which have since been seized by members of the community.
The aforementioned publication reported that an eyewitness, Nengi Chukwueze, who spoke shortly after the incident, disclosed that the victim was currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Bonny.
Chukwueze further stated that though the matter was promptly reported at the Bonny Divisional Police Headquarters, officers had yet to apprehend the attacker, who is thought to still be hiding in the island community.
“The victim is still in the hospital. If he was not rescued on time by people around the place, he could have bled to death.
“The Fulani herder is still in hiding. He left his cows and fled the area immediately he attacked Pepple. He is rearing the cattle for a Bonny indigene, so that person has been identified and has been helping with finding him.
“The incident has left residents of the island shocked because it is a peaceful community. We hope the attacker is arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
The State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, is yet to comment on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
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