Gunmen attacked Igangan community in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State on Saturday and killed at least 11 people.
A youth leader in Igangan, Abiodun Adegoke, who spoke to journalists early on Sunday, said the gunmen suspected to be of Fulani descent invaded the town at about 11pm on Saturday, burning fuel stations, houses, shops and the palace of Oba Lasisi Adeoye, the monarch of the town.
According to him, the armed men, who came on motorcycles, operated till the early hours of Sunday.
On Sunday, the police in Oyo State confirmed the death of 11 people in an attack on Igangan community.
The police spokesman, Adewale Osifeso, who confirmed the development in a statement, said; “On 5th June 2021 at about 2310hrs, suspected armed bandits in their numbers invaded Igangan Community in the dead of the night to unleash mayhem on unsuspecting members therein.
“In the process, Eleven (11) persons including some of the assailants were confirmed dead, while some vehicles and buildings including the Palace of the Asigangan of Igangan town and a filling station were torched.
“Consequent upon the unfortunate occurrence, the Commissioner of Police embarked on an on the spot assessment on 6th June, 2021, to critically assess the level and cause of damages on the various sites of killings and arsons.”
Reacting to the incident, the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, condemned the killings on behalf of the South West governors.
He said, “Certain elements are bent on causing friction among the peoples of this country with the sole aim of achieving a pernicious end. They will stop at nothing until their set goal is realized. It is, therefore, incumbent on all lovers of peace and freedom to rise against this current regression into savagery.
“We on our part are resolved to defend our people, their property, and all legitimate means of livelihood against both internal and external aggression. On this, there will be no compromise. We call on our people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities. In addition, they must be united in the task of defending our lives and properties. We cannot afford to fail.”
Following the weekend incident, the main opposition party in Oyo State, All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, to convene a security summit promptly to address the security challenges in the state.
The APC spokesman in Oyo, AbdulAzeez Olatunde, said, “Obviously and certainly, the current situation of Oyo State was not what Makinde and PDP took over from the immediate past APC government in the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2019.
“The excuse of general security issues has been with us in Nigeria since 2009 even before Ajimobi took over the mantle of governance in 2011. In spite of the issues, Ajimobi secured Oyo State.”
