Security Agents, Hunters Comb Oyo Forests After Herdsmen Attacked Igangan

Mobile policemen as well as hunters are combing forests in Igangan, Oyo State, and neighbouring communities in search of the gunmen who attacked the town on Sunday.

Residents told our correspondent that the security agents and vigilantes moved into the forest on Sunday night and had been searching everywhere for clues that could aid their investigation.

The Chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Lateef Akorede, said on Monday that the area was now safe as policemen and vigilantes comprising of hunters had taken over the bush

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, had in a statement on Sunday, said mobile policemen with the assurance of the vigilantes had been deployed in Igangan to assist in securing the place.

The council chairman who was recently inaugurated following the local government poll conducted on May 22 said the casualty figure and destruction would have been much more if not for the vigilantes who confirmed the attackers.

He also said that some of the attackers were shot dead by the hunters who fought with locally made guns.
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He said the Asigangan of Igangan, Oba Lasisi Adeoye, was not hurt despite that his palace was completely razed by the gunmen.

He said, ” Our vigilantes stopped the herdsmen from killing many more. They came out to them and stopped them, if not the number of casualty would have been higher.

” Although we cannot categorically say the attack was a reprisal, it appears like a reprisal but security agencies are investigating and they have promised to unravel those behind the killings.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the Oodua People’s Congress in Oyo State, Rotimi Olumo, has expressed the readiness of his group to assist in providing adequate security in Ibarapaland and other parts of the state.

Olumo, who said this in a statement on Monday, asked residents of the state to always alert the OPC any time they hear of attacks or any criminal activity.

He said the killings in Igangan was disheartening and provocative.

Olumo said it was unfortunate that members of the OPC who captured a Fulani warlord , Iskilu Wakili, and handed him over to the police were still languishing in prison up till now.

He said, “Ever since the time that Isikilu Wakili was arrested by OPC members there had never been a day in ibarapaland that innocent citizens are not killed. I can tell you that the security situation in ibarapa land is very worrisome

” Why is the Federal Government folding its arms and allowing Fulani herdsmen to be killing Yoruba people in their father’s land?”