A 45-year-old Nigerian artisan, Ayodele Adanlawo has reportedly fled the country following a violent farmer–herder clash in Oyo State that left him severely injured and his mother dead.
Sources said the man, a native of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, had relocated to Ibadan after losing his generator repair workshop in Lagos in 2023 when the property housing his business was sold without prior notice.
It was gathered that Adanlawo, who had built a livelihood in Lagos as a generator technician and lived with his wife and four children in Oshodi, was forced to return to farming in Ibadan after failing to secure another workshop.
According to sources, he secured temporary farmland at Sukuru Farm in Lagelu Local Government Area, where he cultivated maize, vegetables, okra and pepper in a bid to sustain his family.
However, in 2024, his farm was hit by a severe pest infestation, prompting him to apply insecticides to salvage the remaining crops.
Trouble reportedly began when cattle belonging to Fulani herders grazed on the treated crops, leading to the death of about ten cows.
Sources disclosed that the herders, angered by the loss, confronted Adanlawo on his farm, resulting in a violent attack.
He was allegedly beaten, stabbed and left in a pool of blood, while his elderly mother, said to have been present at the scene, was struck during the altercation and died instantly.
He was later rescued by nearby farmers and rushed to hospital, where he received treatment for multiple injuries, including head wounds and deep cuts.
It was further gathered that the incident left him traumatised and fearful for his life, especially after warnings from locals that the attackers remained hostile following the loss of their cattle.
Sources added that the recurring clashes between farmers and herders across parts of Nigeria, often marked by violence and limited security response, heightened his concerns about personal safety and the well-being of his family.
Unable to return to farming or remain in the area, Adanlawo reportedly relocated back to Lagos, where he later met a community leader and philanthropist who, after hearing his ordeal, sponsored his relocation abroad.
Sources said he believes internal relocation within the country would not guarantee his safety, as herders move across regions, adding that his primary concern remains staying alive to continue supporting his wife and four children.
The development underscores ongoing concerns over farmer–herder conflicts in Nigeria, which have continued to result in loss of lives, displacement and destruction of livelihoods in several rural communities.