A hunter and farmer identified as Yusuf has alleged that he acted in self-defence after shooting Joseph Ajayi during a land dispute in Iwo, Osun State.
According to a report by the Nigerian Tribune published on Saturday, July 11, 2026, Yusuf, who is in police custody, claimed the confrontation occurred while he was attempting to hide his motorcycle in a forest. He alleged that Ajayi, accompanied by a group of men, attacked him and shot him three times with a pump-action gun.
Yusuf said the gunfire caused him to fall from his motorcycle, after which he returned fire.
“Joseph Ajayi shot me up to three times with a pump-action gun. My motorbike fell. At that point, I retaliated by firing my own gun at him. He intended to kill me, and I responded in self-defence,” he alleged.
The suspect maintained that Ajayi initiated the attack and said he had no regrets about his actions, insisting he believed his life was in danger during the confrontation.