The Igangan community in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State has been thrown into mourning as some suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly unleashed terror on residents in a midnight attack on Sunday.
It was learnt that about 20 people lost their lives with many others sustaining varying degrees of injury during the incident.
Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, an activist and Secretary of Igangan Farmers’ Union, told journalists that some lives were lost in the attacks. According to him, security agents reportedly killed five of the hoodlums.
He said a petrol station, some cars and a truck were razed by the attackers.
The palace of the Asigangan, the monarch in the community was also said to have been destroyed.
”The Fulani terrorists waged war on Igangan from around 12 o’clock in the midnight till early hours of today (Sunday).
“They burnt many properties- cars, a truck and a filling station.
”We will know the exact number of people killed, those injured and the number of properties that they destroyed later. Things will be clearer later,” Adeagbo said.
Some residents of the community urged security agents to be alive to their responsibility by securing lives and properties of the people.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
Messages sent to his telephone line had yet to be replied.
In an earlier report on Friday, some suspected herders attacked a 28-year-old farmer, Kaptain Kaston, Idiyan, at a village near Igangan.
The Convener of Igangan Development Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, confirmed the incident, saying, “The farmer was reportedly attacked by three criminal Fulani men around his farm at Abojukopo area of ldiyan.
“The victim, who was brutally attacked, was asked never to tell anyone that his attackers are Fulani and he agreed to cooperate with them. Unfortunately, they were not convinced and attacked him with a cutlass.
“The farmer was later shot by one of the terrorists on the shoulder after inflicting injuries on his body.”
The Chairman of the Oyo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps, General Kunle Toogun (retd.), had on Wednesday raised the alarm that some foreign Fulanis had besieged the South-West.
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has reportedly indicated that “I have received the shocking news of the attacks on residents of Igangan, Ibarapaland in the early hours of this morning (Sunday).
“I am currently being briefed on the incident. I urge residents to remain calm as security operatives are now in control of the situation.”
