Amotekun Commander, Three Others Killed In Fresh Igangan Attack

*How Herdsmen Dressed In Military Uniform Struck

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen again struck late Friday night
in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state
killing four residents.

The attack was however repelled by the swift response of local
security operatives.

The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ibarapa Central simply
identified as Muri was among the victims of the attack.

The attackers were said to have stormed the town in two Hilux
vans, an 18-seater Hummer bus, and a Toyota Sienna bus wearing
military and customs camouflage.

It could not be confirmed at press time if the attackers were
real security operatives as sources who spoke with The Nation said
the residents initially lowered their guards thinking the men were
customs operatives in search of suspected smugglers.

It was gathered that the suspected gunmen arrived in the
community around 7 pm on Friday and attacked some areas.

A resident said the attackers stormed the community in large
number but could not give actual figure.

The convener Igangan development advocate, Oladiran Oladokun
confirmed the attack saying the incident was an attempt to invade
the state through the axis, a border community but was resisted by
the local security operatives.

Oladokun said although, the suspected herders came in customs
and military camouflage to deceive the people and change the
narrative that it was security operatives who stormed the town in
search of those who engage in smuggling activities, a practice that
is alien to the people of the community.

He expressed disappointment over inadequate security despite the
recurrence of the attacks.

A community leader, who spoke in confidence said: “Report
reaching me now reveals that around 8:00 pm people suspected to be
herdsmen again invaded Igangan and shoot sporadically for over
30minutes. Some said they were Customs men as they wore Custom
uniform but they were chased by local hunters after killing some
people.

“They also passed Igboora and continue shooting and it was
reported people died in Igboora too including one Amotekun
operative.

“It was reported that the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa
Central has been killed.”

Contacted, an Amotekun operative in Igangan who craved anonymity
explained that the quick intervention of the local security
operatives forced the assailants to retreat but not without killing
some residents as they escaped through Abeokuta axis.

He said: “It is true. Around past 7 pm, we started hearing a
noise around town that attackers have come again, and we quickly
rushed out. They were shooting sporadically and heavily around AUD
Quarters on their way to the town.

“By the turning to Jabele hotel, they killed a man there. When
they saw that we were coming after them there, they turned back and
headed towards Tapa. When they got to Tapa, they killed another
person.

“When they got to Ayete, they killed one person, when they got
to Igboora, they killed the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa
Central named Muri.

“They wore customs and military uniform as camouflage. They wore
a fake uniform. In fact, they passed in front of Operation Burst
operatives in Ofiki and those ones didn’t know they were assailants
on a deadly mission.

“We suspected them to be herdsmen with the way they operated and
shot randomly while carrying out the attack.

“They came in two Toyota Hilux vans, one 18-passenger hummer bus
and a sienna bus. They wore both military and custom uniforms.

“I cannot ascertain their numbers because before we got to where
they were, as they entered into the town in Igangan, they shot at
someone who sat outside of his house at AUD Quarters, that was
where everybody took to their heels.

“It was when we were hearing repeated gunshots that we too
quickly organised ourselves to face them and when they knew we were
coming after them, they changed direction and faced Tapa.

“When they got to Tapa, they killed one person, killed another
at Ayete and when they got to Ideere, they shot at a soldier and
they killed Amotekun Commander in Igboora.

“We have informed the Police. But Operation Burst operatives are
at Ofiki River, they said they taught they were customs and army
operatives and that was why they allowed them to gain access into
the town but that they didn’t know and they were deceived.

“We even gathered that they also shot at the customs operatives
stationed in the axis too, an indication that the attackers are not
genuine security operatives but we are not sure if they also have
any casualty.”

Recall that, only last month, suspected herdsmen invaded the
town overnight killing many people in the process.

*How Herdsmen Dressed In Military Uniform Struck

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen again struck late Friday night
in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state
killing four residents.

The attack was however repelled by the swift response of local
security operatives.

The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ibarapa Central simply
identified as Muri was among the victims of the attack.

The attackers were said to have stormed the town in two Hilux
vans, an 18-seater Hummer bus, and a Toyota Sienna bus wearing
military and customs camouflage.

It could not be confirmed at press time if the attackers were
real security operatives as sources who spoke with The Nation said
the residents initially lowered their guards thinking the men were
customs operatives in search of suspected smugglers.

It was gathered that the suspected gunmen arrived in the
community around 7 pm on Friday and attacked some areas.

A resident said the attackers stormed the community in large
number but could not give actual figure.

The convener Igangan development advocate, Oladiran Oladokun
confirmed the attack saying the incident was an attempt to invade
the state through the axis, a border community but was resisted by
the local security operatives.

Oladokun said although, the suspected herders came in customs
and military camouflage to deceive the people and change the
narrative that it was security operatives who stormed the town in
search of those who engage in smuggling activities, a practice that
is alien to the people of the community.

He expressed disappointment over inadequate security despite the
recurrence of the attacks.

A community leader, who spoke in confidence said: “Report
reaching me now reveals that around 8:00 pm people suspected to be
herdsmen again invaded Igangan and shoot sporadically for over
30minutes. Some said they were Customs men as they wore Custom
uniform but they were chased by local hunters after killing some
people.

“They also passed Igboora and continue shooting and it was
reported people died in Igboora too including one Amotekun
operative.

“It was reported that the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa
Central has been killed.”

Contacted, an Amotekun operative in Igangan who craved anonymity
explained that the quick intervention of the local security
operatives forced the assailants to retreat but not without killing
some residents as they escaped through Abeokuta axis.

He said: “It is true. Around past 7 pm, we started hearing a
noise around town that attackers have come again, and we quickly
rushed out. They were shooting sporadically and heavily around AUD
Quarters on their way to the town.

“By the turning to Jabele hotel, they killed a man there. When
they saw that we were coming after them there, they turned back and
headed towards Tapa. When they got to Tapa, they killed another
person.

“When they got to Ayete, they killed one person, when they got
to Igboora, they killed the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa
Central named Muri.

“They wore customs and military uniform as camouflage. They wore
a fake uniform. In fact, they passed in front of Operation Burst
operatives in Ofiki and those ones didn’t know they were assailants
on a deadly mission.

“We suspected them to be herdsmen with the way they operated and
shot randomly while carrying out the attack.

“They came in two Toyota Hilux vans, one 18-passenger hummer bus
and a sienna bus. They wore both military and custom uniforms.

“I cannot ascertain their numbers because before we got to where
they were, as they entered into the town in Igangan, they shot at
someone who sat outside of his house at AUD Quarters, that was
where everybody took to their heels.

“It was when we were hearing repeated gunshots that we too
quickly organised ourselves to face them and when they knew we were
coming after them, they changed direction and faced Tapa.

“When they got to Tapa, they killed one person, killed another
at Ayete and when they got to Ideere, they shot at a soldier and
they killed Amotekun Commander in Igboora.

“We have informed the Police. But Operation Burst operatives are
at Ofiki River, they said they taught they were customs and army
operatives and that was why they allowed them to gain access into
the town but that they didn’t know and they were deceived.

“We even gathered that they also shot at the customs operatives
stationed in the axis too, an indication that the attackers are not
genuine security operatives but we are not sure if they also have
any casualty.”

Recall that, only last month, suspected herdsmen invaded the
town overnight killing many people in the process.