At least 20 people were reported killed on Saturday night as gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded and attacked Igangan, a town in the Ibarapa North Local Government area of Oyo State.
The bandits, numbering over 50 who invaded the town on more than 20 motorcycles, also razed the palace of the traditional ruler, the Asigangan, as well as a popular petroleum station in the town.
Just a few days ago, the chairman of the Oyo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps, General Kunle Togun (rtd), raised the alarm that foreign Fulanis had encamped around the entire South-West region and may strike if nothing was done urgently.
A former caretaker chairman of the council, Tunji Omolewu, confirmed the incident, saying he had to rush down around 5 am on Sunday.
“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,” he told Oyo Insight.
A former caretaker chairman of neighbouring Ibarapa Central, Yemi Akinlabi, also said his phone was bombarded with calls on the attack.
“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 Toogun 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.
Police public relations officer in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, did not immediately pick his calls when The Eagle Online tried to reach him for comments on Sunday morning.
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