By Oyindamola Ruth
The Ogun state police command has denied the viral video claiming some Fulani herdsmen attacked the house of Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta on Tuesday night, February 9.
According to the police, young Fulani man, Awalu Muhammad, whose cow had got missing entered Soyinka’s residence in search of the animal.
This was contained in a statement released by the spokesperson of the command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi.
DSP Oyeyemi said, “While the Fulani man was searching for the stray cow around kemta estate where the Prof Wole soyinka’s house is located, the Prof. himself who was going out then saw the Fulani man with some of the cows and he came down to ask where the man was heading to with the cows.
“He there and then asked the Fulani man to move the cattle away from the vicinity.
“The DPO Kemta division, who heard about the incident quickly moved to the scene with the patrol team and the owner of the cows was invited to come with the Fulani man in charge of the cattle.
“The duo were questioned and properly profiled. The entire place was inspected by the DPO and it was established that it was just a case of stray cow as nothing was damaged or tampered with.
“It was therefore a thing of surprise to see a video trending on social media that the respected Professor wole soyinka’s house was invaded by Fulani herdersmen with the view to attack or kill him.
“The video is nothing but a calculated attempt by mischief makers to cause panic in the mind of people. There is nothing like invasion of Prof Wole soyinka’s house or any form of attack on his person.
“The commissioner of police CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun has been to the scene for on the spot assessment, and he personally interviewed the owner of the cattle Kazeem Sorinola, as well as the Fulani man who is in charge of the cattle and their statements show clearly that the mischievous narrative of invation is nothing to take serious.”
However, Oyeyemi warned people that circulating the fake news, adding that they will traced and fished out and likely face the weight of the law.
”It is an offence for anybody to originate or help in circulating fake news, the command will therefore, henceforth be tracing and fishing out those deliberately dishing out fake information to members of the public especially the one that cause panic in the mind of innocent people,” Oyeyemi said.
