Herdsmen crisis: Ibarapa traditional ruler reveals number of people killed

The traditional ruler of Igangan, Oba Lasisi Adeoye, has opened up on what led to the uprising in the once peaceful community.

Recall that the leader of Oodua Republic Movement, Sunday Igboho had stormed the sleepy town in Ibarapa North Local Government, Oyo State on Friday with youths in the town who dislodged suspected Fulani criminals and kidnappers.

In the process, about 11 vehicles belonging to a Fulani leader were burnt.

Oba Adeoye said last night that Igboho was God-sent to his kingdom because all efforts to get help to protect his subjects from criminal-herders had been unsuccessful. He said some leading lights among his subjects had been hacked down mercilessly.

He said: “Sunday Igboho is God-sent. You heard all that has been happening here in Igangan and other parts of Ibarapa. They killed Dr Aborode. He was returning from his farm when he was attacked. He offered them money but they said it was his life they needed to take. They also killed a petrol dealer mercilessly.

“Our women can’t go to farm because they are raped continuously. Our men are also afraid of going to farm whereas farming is our major occupation here. They destroy our farm lands through grazing of their cows. All these have destroyed our economy. We reported several times without any solution. These people are very stubborn and wicked. They have no respect for human life. If they collect money and release their victims it would have been better.”

Asked if the Fulani living among people in the town play any role in the kidnapping, armed robbery and rape, the monarch said he could not fully exonerate them because the criminals hide at Kara (cattle market) after attacking their victims. Kara is located in conspicuous places in communities. “Kara is where the criminals take refuge. They also use the Kara in Igbo-Ora for cover.”