Fulani communities in Oyo State have been attacked by Yoruba youth in Iganga, Ibarapa North local government area of the state.
The attacks have led to the death of three people in the Fulani community including a woman and two children on Friday.
This is even as presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said that the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu had ordered the arrest of Sunday Adeyemi Igboho, who was behind the ultimatum to the Fulani communities to quit Oyo State.
According to the herders, their settlements have been razed along with their property. The Fulani communities were forced to flee into the bushes.
The Sarkin Fulani Salihu Kadiri said they were attacked in the presence of security agents
Aliyu, a son of Sarkin Fulani in Oyo, said they were attacked around 4pm on Friday and most of them are now in the bush.
He said the attackers who were armed with guns stormed their communities and started shooting indiscriminately.
“They have burnt our houses and the Sarki’s vehicles. The children in the room were burnt, some were macheted and some were shot,” Aliyu said, adding that it would be difficult to ascertain the number of those killed for now.
He also said their cattle are in the forest and therefore cannot say if they had been affected.
He said they have been living in their communities for over 50 years.
Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde had earlier declared that his government would not allow anyone hiding under the guise of protecting Yoruba interest to cause ethnic tension and perpetrate crisis in the state.
He maintained that the war which the state and the security agencies need to wage is not against any particular ethnic group but against criminal elements, irrespective of their tribes, religions, or creed.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Makinde stated these while receiving the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko.
While urging the police to arrest miscreants causing tension, Makinde said “We are after hoodlums and bandits irrespective of their tribe, religion, or creed. Those are the people we are after.
“If you look into the records, when we had the armed robbery incident at Okeho in Kajola Local Government Area of the state, some people were killed, some were arrested and we found out that they were from Ebira, from Kogi State. So, we want to go after the criminals – whether they are Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani or whoever they are.”
The governor equally said the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Operation Amotekun, like federal security agencies, is working towards the same objective of securing the state.
He commended the new Commissioner of Police for swinging into action immediately she resumed office, pledging that the government would give maximum cooperation and support to the security agency.
Earlier, the new Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Onadeko, said that the visit was to formally inform the governor that she has resumed fully.
She vowed that the Oyo State Police Command will secure the lives and property of the people and ensure that the people go to bed with their two eyes closed.
