The Osun state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has sympathised with the owners of the cows that were killed by thunder on Friday.

Governor Oyetola described the incidence as shocking, unfortunate and sad.

He solidarised with the owners of the cows and assured them of appropriate support.

Governor Oyetola who was on official assignment to Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, sent a delegation comprised of Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Mr. Olalekan Badmus; Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Abiodun Ajisefinni, and directors from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to assess the incidence.

In their separate remarks, the duo said they were at the scene to solidarise with the victims and assess the situation for further action.

Badmus said: “We are here on the directive of Mr. Governor to come and assess the situation and based on what we found here coupled with the information that we got from the herdsmen, 17 cows and 2 sheep lost their lives to the tragic lightning .

“But we are happy that the herdsmen have been very cooperative and all the advice given to them in terms of the need to decompose the cows for the safety of the people were strictly adhered to.

“As you can see, the officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture are here and they have applied necessary chemicals on the carcass to ensure that nobody comes here to take from it.

“We have burnt them and no one can have access to them. This is part of the efforts of the state government to ensure safety for all.

“Though every business experiences downturn occasionally, but this is a natural phenomenon and as a government, we are going to come up with a report to give to Mr Governor through which further action will be taken”, Badmus said.

The Eburu of Iba, Oba Professor Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye, described the incidence as an ‘economic blow’ to the town in view of the number of cows that were lost to the incidence.

The monarch expressed pain on the tragic lighting saying “It’s indeed a sad day, an unfortunate event”.

“Losing 19 cows in one day is an economic blow. Though we had no control on tragic lighting or thunder, but we still feel the pain of this economic loss of the owners of the cows.

“They are Osun indigenes of Fulani extraction, not herdsmen or strangers. They are part of us. They have lived with us for hundreds of years and we have intermarried.

“So, this loss is the loss of Iba people and we pray that this kind of tragedy never happens again”, Oba Adeogun-Okunoye added.

Reacting to the incidence, the Public Relations Officer, Osun Cattle Rearers Association, Mallam Ahmed Babatunde, sought for support from the people for the victims.

The Deputy Director, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Abosede Olatokun, described the chemicals applied on the carcass as the best option to prevent consumption by the people.

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