By Duchess Ifeoluwa 

Two young men lost their lives in a tragic accident on Thursday when a stray cow suddenly ran into their motorcycle along the popular Ile Oluji-Ondo road.

The incident, which occurred around 11 a.m., has once again raised concerns about the dangers posed by open grazing in Ondo State, despite the government’s ban on the practice.

According to an eyewitness, the victims were transporting a bag of cocoa from Ile Oluji to Ondo City on a motorcycle when the cow emerged from the bush and collided with them, killing them instantly.

The eyewitness further stated that the herder, described as a Fulani man, immediately fled into the bush with his cattle, leaving the lifeless bodies of the victims behind.

Fearing possible legal complications, passers-by reportedly hesitated to assist the victims, highlighting the challenges surrounding such incidents.

As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the deceased remained unknown, and the police had yet to comment on the incident.

Ondo State has had a strict Anti-Open Grazing Law in place for some years, aimed at curbing the destruction of farmlands and preventing conflicts between farmers and herders.

However, continuous disobedience of the law has led to recurring tragedies, including loss of lives and destruction of property.

Residents have repeatedly called on authorities to enforce the law more stringently, as incidents involving stray cattle remain a serious threat to public safety.

This latest tragedy has reignited demands for stricter enforcement of the ban on open grazing, with many urging the government to take decisive action to prevent further avoidable deaths.