Following the killing of 36 cows by lightning in Ijare community area
of Ifedore Local Government in Ondo State, the community has disclosed
how the Fulani herders ignored their warnings against taking their cows
to the sacred mountain of the town for grazing.
According to High Chief Wemimo Olaniran, the Sapetu of Ijare kingdom,
who revealed this on Saturday, stated that ‘Oke-Owa'(Owa Mountain)
where the incident occurred is forbidden for anyone to climb,
particularly its peak except the community’s monarch, the Olujare of
Ijare.
Recall report on how 36 cows were struck to death by lightning at the community’s sacred grove.
Chief Olaniran, the community’s second in command who recounted how
the incident happened disclosed that it was not the first time such is
happening in the community to those who desecrate the sacred mountain.
While adding that it is only the king who is allowed to go to perform
annual rituals at the mountain top, which he said is done once a year,
Chief Olaniran stated the incident will serve as a deterrent to those
desecrating sacred places in the community.
His words: “There have been occasions like that but not as massive as
we are having it now. Some individuals who desecrated the land in the
past did witness thunderbolt attack. When you desecrated any part of
Ijare particularly the sacrifice places, the grove the person will see
the repercussion.
“The place where the cows died is being called ‘Owa’ and it is
normally visited once in a year by the Olujare, where he will stay for a
day. He will be there for seclusion to perform some traditional rites
and no individuals are allowed to go to that place.
“Five days before this time, we learnt that Fulani men were there and
they were carrying wood to build their tent and we said that are they
taking over the land from us, and we pray to God to save us, to
intervene because we don’t want anything to desecrate the place it is a
very special place as far as Ijare community is concerned.
“No implication, it is a sign that the gods that are there don’t want
whosoever to move to that place and settled down there. It is not meant
for any ordinary person even Kabiesi himself goes there once in a year
and there is a way he will compose himself when he is there.
“One unforgettable incident that happened there was that one Olujare
went there and he couldn’t return, so we don’t encourage people to mount
that hill and nobody can touch the dead cows, even Fulani people that
we met there said it was thunderbolt attack they even told us that if we
see anybody that has interest should go there and take away the cows
and we said no that it is a taboo for anybody to touch anything there.
“The dead cows will be there forever. It is part of the history in
our land for people to see as testimony in the future that such things
happened. A whole Oba was buried there live and heaven did not fall talk
less of ordinary cows.
“No casualty, when it happens I and some chiefs went to the police
station to make an official report, police are aware of it even DPO came
to the palace and we explained to him and he confirmed that it was
thunderbolt attack that it wasn’t human being handwork.”