Herdsmen  Kill, Sack  Oyo  Community

War is imminent in the country, The North has waged war against the southwest  – Gani Adams

Abiodun OBA & Nkasi Kolie

Gunmen suspected to be Herdsmen Saturday night  stormed  Igangan, one of the towns in Ibarapa North Local Government Area, killing about 50 people and destroying properties worth millions of money. 

The Palace of the Asigangan as well as a popular petroleum station were not spared. They were razed by the suspected bandits numbering 50, who were said to have invaded the town around 11 pm in more than 20 motorcycles.

This is coming few days after the Chairman Oyo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps, General Kunle Togun (rtd) alleged that foreign Fulanis have encamped the entire Southwest region and may strike if nothing was done urgently.

Speaking shortly after news of the killings and destruction filtered in, with gory videos of the massacre, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, said the North had waged war against the southwest and had also unleashed terror on the region, stressing the need for the southwest region to rise and defend themselves without looking back. 

 “In a situation like this, you rise and defend yourself. Where are the police when the bandits started killing our people in Igangan today? Even the palace of Asigangan of Igangan land,Oba Adewuyi Olaoye, was not spared and the monarch, according to reports had been whisked away by the bandits. 

“Three days ago,the Director-General of Oyo state Southwest Security Network Amotekun,Gen. Kunle Togun(Retd) raised the alarm that herdsmen had invaded the southwest. I corroborated his statements and called for urgent surveillance across the southwest. 

“Now with the recent onslaught on Igangan people, it is evident that the Fulani herdsmen are on a predetermined mission to kill, maim and decimate the southwest. 

“This is one killing too many, I will not fold my arms seeing the blood of innocent people being shed like it is in Igangan. 

Lamenting the failure of the Federal Government to rise to the security challenges, Adams said, “Now that the North had declared war on the southwest, we will never silent or compromise on the homicide going on in the southwest. I want to charge all the governors in the southwest,as well as the traditional rulers to rise to this occasion.”

The Yoruba generalissimo, however, warned criminal herders to stay away from the region, as the southwest can no longer accommodate killers. OPC and other local security operatives will continue to ensure that the region is safe for residents.

“Those killed in Igangan town have their families and friends, there is blood flowing in their veins, and in a moment their lives were cut short by killer herdsmen and bandits in their home”.

Adams admitted that information at his disposal indicates that bandits and killer herdsmen have invaded the southwest thus pushing the security outfits to the wall. 

He, however, urged all the governors to beef up the security of their respective states in order to provide adequate security for the people of the region.

In his reaction, a former caretaker chairman of the council, Tunji Omolewu, who confirmed the incident  said he had to rush down, ”People had barely retired to bed when they said they sighted motorcycles entering the town. Before our people could know what was going on, they had started killing people. I got the call around 11 pm. 

“We were on our way from Ekiti where we had gone to do the Yoruba nation rally. I got to Ibadan around 12 am and when the calls  did not stop coming, I decided to come home. I have counted more than 20 dead bodies. The palace of our monarch was torched. Adolak filling station too was burnt. We are assembled here…” he said, almost breaking down in tears.

A former caretaker chairman of neighbouring Ibarapa Central, Yemi Akinlabi, who is holidaying in the United States, said his phone was bombarded with calls.

”It is so sad. Only few days ago, our people got intelligence report and forwarded it to the appropriate quarters for actions but here we are today. Are we going to continue to live in fear in our land? I have spoken to General Togun about last night’s incident and we would want him and his team to do something. Our people must not be allowed to resort to self-help,” he added.