Armed herdsmen attack Ogun communities schools, hospitals, banks shut, residents stay indoors.
By Bayo Sokunbi
Armed men said to be Fulani have attacked communities in Ogun State forcing banks, schools and religious institutions to close down.
As at this morning, many residents stayed indoor for fear of attacks
The heavily armed Fulani men, said to be in their teens, attacked Owode-Ketu and Ijoun villages in the Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
As at yesterday night, two people have been killed. Some were wounded.
Irohinoodua correspondent who visited the communities this morning met awed residents some of who gathered in small circles discussing the incidence which has forced many to stay indoors.
“No one provoked them. They attacked the communities. I suspect they may have abducted some people in the communities” Alhaji Suleiman Adaranijo who claim to be the leader of Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA) in the community told our correspondent.
According to him, what he saw was “akin to a Guerrilla movement’ well coordinated by trained fighters.
He listed the two people killed as Isiaka Apesin and Oguntosin Adebayo.
He said the herdsmen laid ambush and rained bullets on the two without any provocation.
Another community youth leader in the area, Sola Ogooluwa said for the past 18 months most farmers have abandoned their farms. He said the killings in the farms occur frequently saying that women and girls are raped at gun point.
According to the source, the killer herdsmen ran into the bush after perpetrating the act.
It was gathered that when the day broke, there was tension in the affected villages, a development that made schools and hospitals in the villages to shut down abruptly.
It was gathered that the incident prompted the closure of schools, hospitals and other businesses as villagers scampered for safety after the killings and the indiscriminate shooting by the assailants.
The Baale of Owode-Ketu, Rev. Sanya Fabuyi said it was true that armed Fulani attacked the communities adding that they came into the communities with sophisticated weapons.
Fabuyi said the villagers were helpless as the herdsmen shot indiscriminately and caused panic in the area.
A retired soldied who is a native of the community said he was shocked that the armed Fulani men wore bullet proof vests and that some wore military uniforms.
He said the armed men were ‘about 80 and all armed’
According to him, they may have established camps in Ogun State.
“I dont think this can happen without strong government support. We have military formations around here that should monitor distant movement morning, afternoon and night. I dont believe they can carry out these attacks without institution support” he said
outh community, Mr Sina Olaleye, bulletproof
He said, “The herdsmen were more than 100 and some of them were putting on bulletproof vests. They are still in the forest now and the police are combing the forest.
“All schools and businesses have been shut down and our people are indoors for fear of being attacked.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, warned to perpetrators of violence in Owode-Ketu, Eggua, Igan-Alade and Igbogila areas of the state.
The governor said his administration would leave no stone unturned in curtailing the activities of brigands in the state.
The governor said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin.
“Ogun cannot be defined by crimes and criminalities. Ogun does not have any haven – safe or unsafe – for killers, bandits, insurgents or cultists. We shall spare no action, including ruthless ones, to bring peace, public order into every hamlet, town and city in the Gateway State,” he stated.
The police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi also confirmed the incident.