Oyo Crisis: Farmers Flee As Herdsmen Allegedly Attack Igangan Again

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According to a report by The PUCH, renewed tension has taken over in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State following the alleged takeover of two villages by some herdsmen.

The two villages, Kajola and Gbagba  Idere are located in the Ayete Local Government Area of the state.

Residents of Ayete told our correspondent that a Fulani herdsman, Iskilu Wakil, was asked to leave the villages because he did not buy the land he was occupying.

This was said to have infuriated the herder, who claimed he was a combatant with arms and ammunition.

The Asawo of Ayete, Oba Emmanuel Okeniyi, said those who have farms in the villages had fled the places over fear they might be attacked by Wakil.

Oba Okeniyi said, “They asked him to leave the area. I don’t think he bought the land from anybody and the owners of the land asked him to leave. But rather than leaving, he has become a terror.  The Fulani there usually destroy their farms.

“The farmers in the villages have fled their places, they are just loafing about now. Government has deployed Amotekun personnel in Ayete. They came yesterday ( Friday) but I haven’t heard that they have gone to those villages”

A resident of Ayete, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that Wakil and his followers barricaded the road leading to the villages, adding that they threatened to shoot dead any villager who moved close to the place.

He said, “This started three days ago. The villagers had fled the place. The Amotekun personnel deployed by Oyo State Government are in Ayete, they have not gone to those villages. The police are not going there despite the several distress calls made to them.

“The hunters in the town are ready to face Wakil and his followers but they are afraid because they believe if they fight and kill him, the Federal Government will move against them. But the same Federal Government is not doing anything to ameliorate the plight of the people now. People believe fighting against herdsmen is like fighting against the Federal Government.

“One of the sons of Seriki Fulani who fled Igangan told me that Yoruba people should bring Sunday Igboho to face Wakil. He said he would finish him and his followers.”

In a related development, it was gathered that there was tension in Igangan on Saturday following the alleged attack on a 65-year-old man,  Adekola Adeyemo,  and Jamiu Saedu, aged 30 by herdsmen.

The two of them were said to have been attacked with machete cuts on their heads.

They were in their house sleeping when two herdsmen attacked them and inflicted machete cut injuries on their heads.

One of the prominent persons in Igangan, Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, told our correspondent that the two victims of herdsmen attack were admitted at Fumilayo Clinic, Oke Ola and that the case was reported to the Divisional Crime Officer.

However, when contacted, the Asigangan of Igangan, Oba Lasisi Adeoye, said he was not aware of the fresh attack.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, when contacted also said he had not been briefed about the incident at Ayete and the fresh attack in Igangan.

He said, “I have not been informed of anything like that. But if there is any threat to anybody’s life, let them report to the police and the matter will be taken up from there.

“ That is the reason the police are there, they should report to the police.”