Thunder has reportedly stricken some 36 cows dead at Ijare Community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The cows, belonging to some Fulani herdsmen, were said to have been struck dead by thunder on Saturday night while they grazed on sacred land in the community.

The Fulani herdsmen allegedly took their cattle for grazing in a bush called Oke Owa, where nobody was permitted to enter but the king because the land was sacred. However and while grazing, thunderstruck suddenly and killed no fewer than 36 of the cows.

” The whole town shook when the thunder struck and we started wondering what could have happened. But later we heard that the herdsmen stepped beyond their boundaries by going to the place to graze.

It is a sacred land, we don’t enter there, it is only the king that can go there, The Punch reportedly quoting a source.

According to the source, there was no life lost in the incident since the herders took to their heels immediately the cows were struck dead.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident, describing it as a natural disaster.

” It was a natural disaster and there is nothing anyone can do about it . It is very unfortunate. “

In a reaction, one of the traditional chiefs in the town, High Chief Wemimo Olaniran, said the incident happened because the cows were taken to a traditional ‘no go area’.

He said,

“We were there this morning and we saw about 36 cows dead apart from the one inside the bush. It has happened and there is nothing we can do, we regard it as the act of God which nobody can query.

“There are been occasions like that but not as massive we are having it now, to 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.

“Five days before this time, we learnt that Fulani men were there carry 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.”