Oyo state commissioner of police, Ngozi Onadeko on Sunday says the masterminds of the attack on Fulani community in Igangan, Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo state, will be arrested and prosecuted.
Fulani communities in Igangan were stormed and destroyed during the mayhem on Friday.
The violence erupted after Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, addressed his supporters in Ibarapa following the expiration of a 7-day eviction notice served on herdsmen.
The protesters were said to have set ablaze vehicles and buildings, including the house of Salihu Abdukadir, Seriki Fulani, leader of the Fulani group.
While governor Seyi Makinde urged the Police Commissioner to arrest and treat as criminals, persons stoking the embers of ethnic crisis in Oyo state, Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police (IGP), also ordered the arrest of Igboho over the quit notice he issued to the herdsmen but there is a widespread convergence of views that arresting Igboho could trigger a worse conflagration in an already fragile nation's polity.
However, Onadeko, in a statement by police public relations officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, noted that the peace and calmness being enjoyed in the town was truncated by Igboho’s visit.
She added that a police officer was injured in the chaos while trying to restore order and protect lives and property.
She appealed for calm, saying the violent protest will be investigated and the culprits will be made to face the law.
“Sadly, the relative peace and calmness, being enjoyed, due to the visibility patrols of the security agencies were truncated by the visit of Sunday Igboho to Igangan, at about 1630hrs on 22nd January 2021.
“The visit had culminated in a mob action by some youths in the town, who, armed with different types of weapons, embarked on arson and a breach of peace. In the process, grievous hurt was committed against one of the police officers, while discharging his statutory duties.
“The commissioner of police will like to reiterate that the security agencies will not watch while some criminal elements take laws into their hands.
“Investigation into the arson and the breach of the peace, which occurred at Igangan will be investigated to logical conclusion and culprits shall be brought to justice.”
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