Fresh tension has gripped the people of Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State following the alleged invasion of two villages by some armed herdsmen.
The two villages said to have been taken over by the Fulani herdsmen are Kajola and Gbagba Idere located in the Ayete Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that a Fulani herdsman identified as Iskilu Wakil, was asked to move his cattle out of the villages over his failure to prove the ownership of the land he was occupying.
Wakil who was said to have got angry, warning the villagers that he was a combatant equipped with arms and ammunition.
Ayete monarch, the Asawo of Ayete, Oba Emmanuel Okeniyi, said that farmers in the villages had fled their farms for fear of being attacked by the Fulani herdsman.
According to Oba Okeniyi, “They asked him to leave the area. I don’t think he bought the land from anybody and the owners of the land asked him to leave. But rather than leaving, he has become a terror. The Fulani there usually destroy their farms.
“The farmers in the villages have fled their places, they are just loafing about now. Government has deployed Amotekun personnel in Ayete. They came yesterday ( Friday) but I haven’t heard that they have gone to those villages”
Residents alleged that the Fulani herdsman and his followers have barricaded the road leading to the villages with a warning to all residents steer clear of them or risk being shot.
One of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “This started three days ago. The villagers had fled the place. The Amotekun personnel deployed by Oyo State Government are in Ayete, they have not gone to those villages. The police are not going there despite the several distress calls made to them.
He said, “The hunters in the town are ready to face Wakil and his followers but they are afraid because they believe if they fight and kill him, the Federal Government will move against them. But the same Federal Government is not doing anything to ameliorate the plight of the people now. People believe fighting against herdsmen is like fighting against the Federal Government.
“One of the sons of Seriki Fulani who fled Igangan told me that Yoruba people should bring Sunday Igboho to face Wakil. He said he would finish him and his followers.”
Meanwhile, herdsmen on Saturday caused pandemonium in Igangan following the alleged attack on a 65-year-old man, Adekola Adeyemo, and Jamiu Saedu, aged 30 by herdsmen.
The two men were said to have been attacked by some herdsmen who inflicted machete cuts on their heads.
It was alleged that they were in their houses sleeping when two herdsmen attacked them and inflicted machete cut injuries on their heads.
A prominent son of Igangan, Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, said that the two victims of herdsmen attack were admitted at Fumilayo Clinic, Oke Ola and that the case was reported to the Divisional Crime Officer.
But when contacted, the Asigangan of Igangan, Oba Lasisi Adeoye, said he was not aware of the fresh attack.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, also said he had not been briefed about the incident at Ayete and the fresh attack in Igangan.
The PPRO said, “I have not been informed of anything like that. But if there is any threat to anybody’s life, let them report to the police and the matter will be taken up from there.
“ That is the reason the police are there, they should report to the police.”