Tension gripped Roro village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State after a cattle herder’s son went missing, sparking fears of reprisal attacks. The search ended tragically when the boy’s body was discovered buried in a shallow grave — and the killer turned out to be a local farmer.

The suspect, identified as Taiwo Amos, a widower and father of three, confessed to the crime before a community-wide oath-taking could be carried out. According to him, he acted after “a voice in his head” urged him to kill the herdsboy.

“I came back from church and went to check my trap. I saw him from a distance and suddenly a thought came to me, telling me to kill him. I hurried after him and killed him. He did not offend me at all, even his cows didn’t eat my crops,” Amos admitted.

The suspect, who claimed he acted alone, said he confessed out of fear that curses from the proposed oath-taking would harm his children or others he wrongly accused. He revealed he buried the victim hastily after cutting his legs to fit the shallow grave.

Community leaders disclosed that when initial searches failed, the Baale of Abule Akin, Fatai Akande Adebayo, even considered invoking Sango (the god of thunder) to expose the culprit. Coincidentally, that same night, Amos confessed to fellow hunters and was handed over to the police.

Confirming the development, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, assured residents that peace has returned to the community. He confirmed that the murder weapon — a dane gun and cutlass — were recovered and the suspect remains in custody.

“The situation is calm, there is no cause for alarm. Stakeholders, including farmers and cattle rearers, have agreed there will be no further problems,” he said.

Authorities have urged residents not to take laws into their own hands but to report grievances through lawful channels.

This incident echoes a similar case in 2020 when a farmer and his son in Odeda LGA murdered a herder after disputes over grazing.