A thunderbolt struck in the Ori-Ohin community of Ifon, located in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday, killing eight cows and leaving villagers bewildered.
A video of the aftermath circulated on social media on Monday, drawing attention to what many residents believe may have been a spiritual repercussion tied to local customs.
Community members and leaders claim that the farmland where the incident occurred holds spiritual significance and had long been violated by herders, despite repeated warnings.
The land, reportedly given to some Ebira farmers originally from Kogi State, has faced ongoing destruction due to cattle grazing unchecked in the area.
Joshua Ogunmola, a resident of the community, confirmed the deaths and explained that locals had become frustrated by the herders’ disregard for the anti-open grazing law.
He said that after numerous unaddressed complaints to the authorities, some farmers resorted to traditional spiritual measures in hopes of protecting their crops.
According to Ogunmola, the cows had previously destroyed crops on the farmland, and many believe the thunderstrike may be linked to rituals performed to safeguard the land.
A palace representative, who asked not to be named, also linked the mysterious incident to trespassing by herders.
He expressed that repeated violations of the state’s 2021 grazing law had heightened tensions in the area, even though herders had been warned several times to avoid farmlands.
The news of the thunderstrike spread quickly through the village early Monday morning, with many interpreting the occurrence as a warning from spiritual forces.
The spokesperson noted that despite state laws, enforcement remains a challenge as herders continue to breach the regulations.
When contacted, Ondo State Police spokesperson, Alayande Olushola Adeyinka, confirmed the incident.
He described the deaths as a result of a natural event, clarifying that lightning struck the cows and that no individual or group was responsible.
He added that security teams had been stationed in the community for the past two weeks following earlier reports of herder-related disturbances, and no immediate risk of conflict was anticipated.