Ogun farm manager killed while harvesting crop

A farm manager, Gbenga Kiki, has been strangled by unknown persons while harvesting crop on a farmland in Orisada-Eyo community in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that 37-year-old Gbenga, a father of two, who managed the farm for his boss, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was killed penultimate Sunday, while harvesting tomatoes.

It was learnt that the farm manager had left for the farm on his motorcycle around 12pm.

Our correspondent gathered that Gbenga went with his nine-year-old daughter.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the family members became apprehensive when Gbenga failed to return.

His daughter was found at a junction some hours later, and was taken home by a Good Samaritan.

Gbenga’s corpse was reportedly discovered on Thursday on the farmland by some members of a vigilance group, with some signs of violence.

Our correspondent learnt that the matter was reported at the Owode Police Division, while two suspects were arrested.

The deceased’s mother, Celina Kiki, told our correspondent that Gbenga had left for the farm to harvest some tomatoes for Sallah.

She said, “It was around 12pm on Sunday. I prepared food for him and asked him to eat before going to the farm as he had much work to do. He insisted on going, adding that he would return to eat as he was not going to stay long. He went on his motorcycle.

“He said I should keep the food for him. When it was, however, getting late, I became worried that he had not returned. Minutes later, I saw a man riding his motorcycle home. The man brought back Gbenga’s daughter. I was shocked and knew that something bad had happened. The girl could not explain anything. The attackers must have dropped her at a junction while they went to carry out their wicked act.

“We kept on searching for Gbenga until Thursday when his corpse was found on the farmland. We do not know who killed him. I am still in pains.”

A community leader, who identified himself only as Odebiyi, urged the police to be thorough in their investigation.

He said, “The two suspects arrested should be quizzed thoroughly by the police. They may have useful information about the case. One of them is known as Dauda. He was a former manager of the farmland where Gbenga worked.”

A resident told PUNCH Metro that Gbenga usually did not work on Sunday, adding that the killers were suspected to have called him on the telephone to come and sell tomatoes to them.

 “I saw his corpse. He was strangled and his corpse was dumped in the bush around the farmland,” he added.

The head of the vigilance group in the community, Gafar Raji, said the police should strengthen security in the area, adding that the community had not been attacked by gunmen in the past.

The Ogun State acting Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police were investigating if there was a foul play in Gbenga’s death.

He said, “The matter was initially reported as a case of missing person. But when the corpse was eventually found in a bush, no mark of violence was discovered on him. The owner of the farm and another person were invited for questioning. The police will still investigate if there was any foul play in the death.”