Tension in Igangan as suspected herdsmen kill two, threaten reprisal

Suspected herdsmen allegedly machete two persons to death in the troubled Igangan town in Ibarapa local government. Oyo State.

Vanguard reports that a resident of the community, Mr. Taiwo Adeagbo confirmed the attack and revealed that the herdsmen attacked the two people at around 1 am on Saturday.

One of the victims was attacked with a machete on his head while the second was attacked on his right leg.

Adeagbo said, “Suspected herders invaded the village around 1a.m and attacked two persons. You can imagine when uninvited strangers swooped on innocent people at such an ungodly hour.

“You see why we are saying we don’t want these people who don’t have respect for human lives. The residents have vowed to defend themselves if they try anything of such again”.

The killings have led to tension in the community as the youths are on guard to envisage another attack from the herders.

“Youths have trooped out in large numbers to defend themselves from any further attack. We can see some security agents patrolling the town while officers of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun are keeping vigilance,” a source quoted by Vanguard said.

Oyo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Gbenga Fadeyi, said policemen had been dispatched there.

“Already, we have arrested six suspected hoodlums causing problems in the area. There are several policemen there so that peace can be restored.”

Igangan has been the centre of the recent herdsmen crisis in the southwest. The community came under the spotlight when Yoruba grassroot mobiliser, Sunday Adeyemo stormed the village to issue quit notice to the Fulani resident in the community amid claims of increasing kidnapping and insurgency in the region.

A resulting violence led to the destruction of properties in the area with the Sarkin Fulani, Seriki Salihu Abdul Kadir, fleeing to Ilorin.