By Henry Odeh
Ibarapa:: Fresh Attacks In Igangan As Oyo Police Confirms Killings, Makinde Reacts (PHOTOS)
Unknown assailants on Saturday night invaded Igangan area of Ibarapa in what has been described as a fresh attack which has left unascertained number of persons gruesomely murdered and some severely maimed.
The Convener of Igangan Development Advocate, Oladiran Oladokun, who made this known to sunrisebulletin at the early hour of Sunday morning, 6th of May, alleged that one Ibrahim son of Seriki Saliu, had on several occasions threatened Igangan communities as well as the local vigilantes in the area with attacks.
Oladokun noted that the people of Igangan did not however, took the many threats seriously alluding to the fact that such threats were merely to scare residents in the area.
He explained that following the many threats received by Igangan residents, the people also reported same to the State Government via concerned authorities alleging that the state government downplayed reports of the threats.
“On numerous occasions, Ibrahim, Seriki Saliu’s son kept pledging that Igangan will be razed down to ashes perhaps, his words were taken as mere groans but local vigilantes at Igangan kept receiving the news of impending danger.
“The state I believe thought it’s just another hype, for we notified the state of our fears on the 14th of April, when covert information reached us of a meeting by unknown assailants towards fulfilling their oaths of allegiance towards reprisals.” Oladokun said.
Sunrisebulletin however, gathered that the crisis in Igangan area of Ibarapa since the wake of 2021 was not unconnected with sudden upsurge in the rate of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, incessant herders-farmers clashes in the area which the people of Igangan described as alien to their town.
As part of efforts to restore normalcy to the area, Oyo State Government had procured additional operational vehicles and motorcycles for the state Police Command and other security agencies in addition to specially deploying over 200 members of Amotekun Corp to the area in quell the tension and restore public peace and orderliness.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Ngozi Onadeko, sunrisebulletin further gathered, has since improved on security of lives and properties in the area as tension earlier raised as a result of public apprehension following upscale banditry and kidnapping were quickly surmounted with the deployment of special tactical and surveillance security squards by the first female CP in Oyo state.
Speaking further, Oladokun described the midnight invasion by the yet to be identified assailants as ‘tragic’, he noted that Igangan has again suffered heavy loss casualties alleging that the threats by Ibrahim have been made real.
“Today we lick our wounds, we suffered heavy loss and casualties. The suspected bandits fulfilled their pledge, I can not say the same for those who are supposed to see to our security.
“In fact, Igangan did all within her limit to see to her own security. People contributed money to power local hunters. The local hunters, vigilantes and some OPC members were the only shred of a tiny armour that shielded us as we came under heavy gunfire from 11pm of 5th June to about 3am of 6th June,” Oladokun explains.
However, the Oyo State Police Command through its Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a response to sunrisebulletin inquiries over the incident after the Command was contacted on Sunday June 6 for comments.
The Oyo Police Spokesman explained that the incident happened on Saturday at about 2310hrs but noted that the number of casualties could not yet be ascertained.
DSP Osifeso said a number of unknown gunmen invaded Igangan town with dangerous weapons in a bid to create unrest in the town saying that the gunmen who he described as ‘unscrupulous elements’ were however, repelled by a combination of of Operational and tactical assets deployed to the scene to restore normalcy.
“On Saturday at about 2310hrs, a yet to be ascertained number of unknown assailants invaded Igangan town with dangerous weapons in a bid to create unrest in the town.
“The unscrupulous elements were however repelled by a combination of Operational and tactical assets immediately deployed to the scene to restore normalcy.
“The situation is being closely monitored and comprehensive investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators,” DSP Osifeso said.
In a swift reaction to the attack, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged the residents of the state to remain calm, stressing that security operatives are in control of the situation of the fresh attack by bandits in Igangan.
A brief remark posted on official Facebook page of the Governor quoted the Makinde as saying that he received the news of the attack on resident of Igangan in the early hours of this morning.
“I have received the shocking news of the attacks on residents of Igangan, Ibarapaland, in the early hours of this morning.
“I am currently being briefed on the incidents. I urge residents to remain calm as security operatives are now in control of the situation.” Makinde said.
