By John Moses
A lightning strike claimed the lives of 32 cows in Osara village, located in the Obantoko community of Odeda Local Government Area in Ogun State during a heavy downpour on Saturday.
The tragic event has left the Fulani herders bewildered, as they could not fathom the reason behind the deaths of their cattle. The herders had been in their shed, waiting to take the animals out for evening grazing, when the storm broke, and the cows were struck while in their shelter.
Upon discovering the loss, the herders reported the incident to Baale Wasiu Afolabi, a local community leader, who then confirmed the tragic event. “The herders came to inform me that lightning had killed 32 of their cows,” Afolabi explained. He added that he visited the site with the herders and saw the animals lifeless, which led to the involvement of both the local police and the chairman of the Odeda Local Government, Dr. Afolashade Adeyemo.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, later confirmed the incident, attributing it to a “natural phenomenon.” According to Odutola, the herders reported the unusual event to the Aregbe Divisional Police Headquarters, with a suspicion that intense lightning during the storm had caused the fatalities.
The monetary value of the cattle remains undetermined, and although the animals showed no signs of injury or foul play, they were found dead in various positions within the forested area. The herders confirmed they did not suspect any criminal activity, nor had they made any accusations regarding the deaths.
In response to the tragedy, Lanre Ogunlowo, Ogun State’s Commissioner of Police, called for calm within the community and reminded residents that such incidents, although unfortunate, are part of nature and should be treated as such.
