An Oyo State-based businessman and activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has reportedly arrived in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State in pursuant of a directive which he issued during his visit to the area on account of the incessant kidnap and killings of residents of the community by suspected hoodlums.
It was gathered on Friday that on his arrival to the community, Igboho was received by hundreds of youths at the Igangan Town Hall.
He was reported to have addressed the youths and other members of the community as of the time of filing this report.
A resident of Igangan, who confirmed Igboho’s arrival on the condition of anonymity, said that the man insisted that Seriki must leave the town as many people had fingered him (Seriki) as being behind the reported insecurity in the area.
Ahead of his arrival, some youths were said to have made bonfires on major streets in the town.
Meanwhile, there had been palpable tension in Ibarapa area of Oyo State on Friday morning as the quit notice given to herdsmen in the area expired.
The residents expressed frustration over the horror being experienced as a result of the incessant killings, kidnappings, and destruction of their farmlands by suspected herdsmen in Ibarapaland.
Igboho had, on January 15, stormed the Fulani settlements in in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area with an instruction that Seriki and his co-travellers should leave the community within seven days for masterminding abductions, killings, and other criminal activities in the area.
The Oyo State Police Command had, however, warned the residents of the state against engaging in acts of lawlessness and violence in the state.
The new Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, gave the warning in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi.
The police said four persons were injured when Igboho visited the place and the Fulani also allegedly waylaid farmers returning from their farms the same Friday night and hacked four of them.
Governor Seyi Makinde had on Wednesday in a state broadcast condemned the threat to evict the Fulani, while warning those behind the threat to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
When contacted on the telephone, the Convener of Igangan Development Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, told our correspondent that there is tension in the town following the expiration of the ultimatum.
He said, “Some youths are already gathering in Igangan. There is tension but I learnt that Operation Burst has dispersed some of them.”
Some residents also said security agents were in town to prevent any act of lawlessness.
They pleaded that the security operatives should be around all through the night.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has warned residents of the state against engaging in any act of lawlessness and violence in any part of the state.
Onadeko, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the Command, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi.
Frustrated by the incessant killings, kidnappings, and destruction of farms allegedly carried out by herdsmen in Ibarapaland, Igboho last week Friday, stormed the Seriki’s settlements in the area and and issued a seven-days quit notice to him.
According to the police, four persons were injured during Igboho’s visit to the area on January 15 with four residents of the community, including farmers returning from their farms on Friday night hacked.
Reacting to last week’s incident, Governor Seyi Makinde had in a state broadcast on Wednesday, condemned the eviction threat issued to the herders in the community, warning those behind the threat to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
On the quit notice, the CP in the state said the police aligned themselves with the position of the governor adding that the police would ensure adequate security of every law-abiding resident of the state.
The statement read, “The Oyo State Police Command would like to associate itself with the position of Governor Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State on the need for the good people of Oyo State to be calm and peaceful, as well as desist from taking laws into their hands.
“The commissioner of police would like to assure the peace loving people of Oyo State that necessary strategies have been put in place, in collaboration with other security agencies in the state, to ensure that all residents of Oyo State are free to go about their lawful businesses and duties, without threat or hindrance.
“The police command with the support of sister security agencies wishes to state emphatically that anyone who engages in any disturbance of the peace or any act of criminality will be brought to justice.”
