By Deborah Hassan
365Daily– The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has absolved fulani herdsmen of any involvement in the killings thay happened in Igangan and Igbo Ora areas of the state on Friday, July 16, 2021.
He said the killings were done by men of the Nigeria Customs Service and military men.
Reports had stated that many were killed in the Friday night incident, including an Amotekun Force Commander, after an attack by criminal herdsmen.
However, Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, said an investigation was ongoing, but preliminary findings showed the previous reports were false.
He said: “On Igangan and Igbo Ora crisis: Please don’t join the spread of undue alarm. The attack on Ibarapaland on Friday, July 16 was not the handiwork of Fulani herders.
“Relevant and authoritative accounts have it that some Customsmen heavily supported by soldiers instigated the attacks while on patrol of the area.
“Towns around Ibarapa started mounting blocks as security measures to curb excesses of marauding gunmen. The Customesmen with some in military uniform opened fire on bystanders at each of the roadblocks they saw in Igbo Ora and Igangan and that led to deaths.
“An Amotekun operative driving his bike to join his colleagues for patrol was gunned down by men in military uniform.
“Let’s await full report of investigations, still ongoing, but leaders of the towns have put this on the doorsteps of Customs/military men.”