‘A voice told me to kill him’: Ogun farmer confesses to murdering teenage herder in shocking case

A farming community in Ogun State has been left shaken after a farmer confessed to killing a teenage cattle herder and burying him in a shallow grave, claiming he was driven by “a voice in his head.”

The incident occurred in Roro village, near Mile 8 in the Obafemi Owode local government area. Panic spread when the boy went missing and fears of reprisal attacks by Fulani herders began to circulate.

Police, hunters, and villagers launched a search before eventually recovering the teenager’s body. Community leaders had suggested that residents take a traditional oath to reveal the truth within seven days. But before the ritual began, a 48-year-old farmer and hunter, Taiwo Amos, admitted to the killing.

‘I followed the voice in my head’ – suspect confesses

Amos, a widower and father of three, told investigators he acted after returning from church and visiting his farm.

“I saw him from a distance and a thought came to my mind, telling me to go and kill him. I hurriedly went after him and killed him,” he said in his confession.

When asked whether the victim’s cattle had destroyed his crops, Amos replied: “He didn’t offend me at all. Even his cows did not eat my crops.”

The farmer said he confessed out of fear of the traditional oath, worried that his children or innocent villagers could be punished if he kept silent.

“I buried him in a shallow grave and cut his legs because I was tired from digging. No one helped me,” he admitted.

Amos pleaded for leniency, saying: “I want the government to have mercy on me. I am a first-time offender.”

Traditional ruler consulted Sango to find culprit

The Baale of Abule Akin, Fatai Akande Adebayo, revealed that he turned to Sango, the Yoruba god of thunder, after repeated searches by hunters failed to locate the killer.

“On the same night I spoke about consulting Sango, the suspect confessed to another hunter. That was how the police arrested him,” the traditional leader said.

He explained that cows belonging to the victim later wandered into their village, alerting residents to the tragedy.

Police assure residents of calm

Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed that Amos is in custody and that the murder weapon—a dane gun and a cutlass—had been recovered.

“The situation is calm. There is no cause for alarm. Community leaders, cattle rearers, and farmers have all agreed there will be no reprisals,” Ogunlowo assured.

He said the victim’s body had been exhumed and properly buried, and additional patrols were deployed to prevent further unrest.

“This is a tragic case, but I must stress: two wrongs cannot make a right. We urge residents to follow lawful channels when disputes arise,” the commissioner added.

The murder has revived memories of earlier farmer-herder clashes in Ogun, including a 2020 case in Odeda Local Government where a herder was killed and his body dumped in a well.