Herdsmen came to Soyinka’s house but fled after encounter, says Agunloye
By Pelumi Aluko
Herdsmen visited the house of Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka but fled after the literary icon accosted them, a close ally of the Professor, Dr Olu Agunloye has said.
In a statement he made available to Irohinoodua, Agunloye said the herdsmen did not break into his house.
Agunloye said “There were no attacks and no attempts to attack the Nobel Laureate. What happened was that herdsmen led their cattle to graze in Prof Soyinka’s unfenced compound again yesterday despite his strong warnings to the herdsmen.”
He said Prof Soyinka has been living in the forest at the outskirt of Abeokuta in Area designated as GRA since late 1980s.
He said “However, in recent times cattle herders have desecrated the grounds of Professor Soyinka’s compound by flooding it with cows. The Professor summoned the herdsmen and sternly warned them to stop the ugly practice. He told them in very clear terms that it was unacceptable.”
He said the herdsmen broke the rules yesterday thinking that Prof Soyinka was not home.
“When the Prof accosted them, they fled into the bush leaving their cows behind. Prof Soyinka reported the incident to the Police which later arrested the herdsmen and their cows.”
He said “We can say categorically that Prof Soyinka and his house were not physically attacked but his compound was violated by recalcitrant herdsmen who wanted to turn his compound to a grazing field. Prof Soyinka and his family remain okay in their Abeokuta home.”
