How my pregnant woman was murdered by herdsmen in Ekiti, husband laments

A woman, said to be a Tiv from Benue State, has been shot dead in a farm settlement at Orin community in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Husband of the victim Felix Iyape, while recounting the incident, told newsmen that when the attackers were trying to gain entry into their residence, he and his late wife stood by the door to prevent their entry, but they shot a gun that hit his wife on the head.

He explained that he managed to run away through the back door.

Witnesses claimed that the suspected herdsmen spoke in Fulani language and had threatened to kill whoever might come out to escape.

Community sources claimed that the attack which took the life of the woman, was retaliatory after a Fulani man was murdered in Oke Ako, recently allegedly by Tivs.

The killing came despite efforts by Governor Ayodele Fayose to prevent a reprisal, which he preached at a meeting on Tuesday night with representatives of the Fulani and Tiv communities in the state.

Fayose had called for peace among the citizenry of the state, whereas the meeting had agreed that more stakeholders would be invited to ensure peace.

But reports from the community claimed that the alleged Fulani attackers had attacked the farm settlement at night and had shot the woman, said to be eight-months pregnant.

The mother of one, whose name was given as Uyoga Iyape had been trapped in the raid, which sources said took place at about 1:15 a.m.

Members of the community had gathered at the palace square later in the morning where they where they discussed the development and the need for government to fish out the killers.

A combined team of security operatives including the police, soldiers and local hunters had combed the surrounding farmlands for possible apprehension of the attackers, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The remains of the deceased Mrs Iyape had been deposited at the morgue while those sustain injury were receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti.

Effort to speak with the police public relations officer was not successful as at press time.