A strange thunderstorm struck the Ori-Ohin community in Ifon, located in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday, killing at least eight cows.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media Monday, sparking speculation among residents and community leaders, who attributed the unusual event to the spiritual consequences of desecrating sacred farmland.
The land in question had reportedly been allocated to Ebira-speaking farmers from neighboring Kogi State but had faced repeated destruction from freely roaming cattle.
According to sources, the farmland had been under constant threat from Fulani herders who allegedly violated open grazing laws by allowing their livestock to graze unchecked, damaging crops and livelihoods.
A community member, Joshua Ogunmola, confirmed the incident and expressed frustration over the herders’ disregard for the law, noting that multiple complaints to security agencies had gone largely unanswered. In response, he said, the farmers resorted to spiritual means in an attempt to protect their land.
“The cows had previously destroyed several farms. The thunder strike appears to be a result of sacrifices made by the landowners,” Mr. Ogunmola told Peoples Gazette.
A spokesperson for the community’s traditional ruler, speaking on condition of anonymity, supported the claim that the herders had trespassed on farmland despite numerous warnings. He emphasized that the community had long enforced the state’s ban on open grazing, and the recent incident was seen as a form of divine retribution.
“We woke up this morning only to be told that thunder or lightning killed eight cows in Ori-Ohin. The news filtered in when we were about to pray. It’s unfortunate, but these people keep flouting the state livestock rearing and grazing regulation and ranches establishment law 2021,” he said.
A police spokesperson in the state, Alayande Olushola Adeyinka, when contacted, confirmed the incident, describing it as a “natural phenomenon.”
“I can confirm that eight cows were killed by a thunder strike yesterday (Sunday) in the community. It’s a natural phenomenon, and we can’t hold anyone responsible for that act,” Mr Adeyinka told The Gazette.
However, he stated that the police had deployed security operations to the community in recent weeks in response to complaints about the activities of herders and bandits.
“So, we did not foresee any possible breakdown of law and order. Our men have been in the town for two weeks, carrying out soft operations to avoid any security breaches and clashes,” the police spokesperson said.
A similar incident took place in 2019 at the revered Oke-Owa hill in Ijare, Ifedore Local Government Area, where lightning struck and killed 36 cows belonging to Fulani herdsmen.
Local villagers attributed the event to the “wrath of the gods” believed to guard the community.
Just a month later, another mysterious lightning strike occurred at Oyinmo quarters in Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area in Ondo State, killing eight cows grazing on a mountain.
The cattle, also owned by Fulani herdsmen, were struck while feeding, prompting the herders to flee the scene immediately.
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