The incident occurred in the rustic, agrarian  community of Ogbooro where herdsmen have a reputation for laying waste to swathes of farmlands and destroying crops.

Disarming gone wrong

A Vanguard report of the story is put this way: "The SARS commander was killed when he and his men tried disarming the herdsmen, who residents in the area say have been terrorising them.

"The team of policemen were said to have acted on a tip-off and moved to disarm the herdsmen, but they were resisted with gunshots which killed the commander."

There are reports of tension around the community as local vigilantes wade into forests in search of the herdsmen.

Recurring theme

Herdsmen-farmer clashes have been a recurring theme across Nigeria in recent times.

The herders have reportedly ended the lives of hundreds of persons in communities spread across Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Taraba and Plateau States.

Notorious herdsmen

A police spokesperson has confirmed the killing of one of its personnel by the herdsmen in Oyo.

SP (Superintendent of Police)  Adekunle Ajisebutu told newsmen that "It is true that an officer of ours was murdered. We have arrested four suspects and we are already investigating them."

An eyewitness told Vanguard that: "The killing of Supol Sheu has made the issue a story. Before now, attacking women, especially in the evening and night, robbing and raping them is not news around here.

"The Bororo herdsmen have always been notorious for that.

"They use their AK-47 to guard their cattle during the day and use it to commit nefarious activities at night.

"The Superintendent of Police was a very nice, gentle and well-behaved officer. He used to relate with civilians in a very civil manner.

"His death is very sad. With this, I believe the security operatives will take the issue of herdsmen attacks and robbery more seriously."

Crackdown

President Muhammadu Buhari has deployed law enforcement and soldiers to quell the herdsmen killings across the country.

In a visit to on February 6, the president warned that attacks by herdsmen will no longer be tolerated on his watch.