One of the domestic staff members of Professor Wole Soyinka has confirmed that herdsmen brought their cattle to graze at the surroundings of the Nobel laureate’s residence in Ilugun Village, Abeokuta.

The domestic worker, who refused to give his name, disclosed this to journalists on Friday at the residence of the playwright, located in a serene forest far away from Ilugun village and Kemta Estate.

He said the herdsmen had on Saturday, April 15, 2017, come with their cattle to graze at the frontage of Soyinka’s house.

He said that was the second time they would come with their cattle to graze around the residence.

He said the Nobel laureate was the first to discover the footmarks of the cattle at the stream area, when the herdsmen came the first time.

But during their second coming on Saturday, April 15, the domestic staff added that they had to chase the herdsmen away.

He said, “Yes, it is true that the herdsmen have invaded this place (residence) twice. The last time they came was on Saturday, April 15.

“They came directly to graze around the house and we had to chase them away.

“Nobody saw them the first time they came, it was after they had gone that, Prof. (Soyinka) saw the footprints of the cattle and drew our (Domestic staff) attention to that.

“But when they came the second time, they met us and we chased them away and since then, we have not seen them again.”

However, Ogun Police Command said the case of the invasion of the Nobel laureate’s home had not been reported to them.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said, “I have called the Divisional Police Officer, Kemta Police Station, and he told me there was no such report made at the station.”

The invasion was made public by the 82-year-old scholar on Friday while speaking at a forum in Freedom Park, Lagos.

“We are living in dangerous times. My home is under invasion… From Imeko to Abeokuta is under invasion by herdsmen", TheCable quoted Soyinka as saying.

“This is a deliberate act of provocation. The trespasses have been frequent, we have reported to the police, but government is taking security lightly.

“We need to wake up the government, let them know the seriousness of the issue on ground; these herdsmen are worse than Boko Haram.”

Punch