Tension in Oyo community residents as herdsmen hack farmers to death

 By Boye Ajayi

Following the killing of some farmers in Igangan community in Oyo State by suspected herdsmen, the people have been gripped by fear.

Some farmers who were returning home after a hard day’s job were reportedly attacked by the herdsmen, leaving two of them dead, Persecondnews reports.

Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area has been a hotbed of killer-herders’ attacks in recent years.

During the attack, it was learnt that the skull of one of the victims identified as Seun, was slit with machete by his attackers.

It was gathered that the attack followed a visit to Igangan by a strongman from the zone, Sunday Igboho, to warn the Seriki Fulani, Saliu Kadri, about what he called mindless killings of the natives in the community.

Kadri had been variously fingered as the mastermind of series of attacks on the people of Igangan, especially farmers.

Some prominent indigenes of the town had been killed by suspected herdsmen with several others kidnapped while travelling or on their way to the farm.

Igboho was said to have gone to the settlement of the Seriki to confront him there.

Sources said that he accused the Fulani man of being responsible for the crises in the area which led to the attacks.

The Convener of Igangan Development Advocates, Mr Oladiran Oladokun, told newsmen that Sunday Igboho came to Igangan and went to Kara Market because it is the place where they use to perpetrate the atrocities.

“Ibarapa people have all agreed that Kara markets should be closed so that crime would be reduced in the area.

“He also went to Seriki’s settlement to confront him. After he left, the Seriki’s boys trooped out and hacked down four persons returning from farm; two of them have been reported dead.”

When contacted, Oyo State Police Command spokesman, DSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said Igboho went to the Fulani camp in the town and injured four persons.

 “The popular Sunday Igboho from Igboho town stormed the Fulani camp at Igangan with his men in four Hilux pickup vans and attacked the people, injuring four persons.

“He then warned them to vacate the camp in seven days or be forcefully evicted. The injured persons were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police patrol vehicle has been deployed to the area,’’ he said,

He said investigation into the incident had commenced.