6 killed in Osun not related to herders/farmers clash, says Police as governor orders arrest of culprits
The Osun Police Command has said that the killing of six persons by unknown gunmen at a farming settlement on Sunday in Wasinmi village in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun was not connected to herders-farmers crisis.
The state police Spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, said in a statement that intensive manhunt was underway for perpetrators of the criminal act.
“The Osun State Police Command wishes to state categorically that the unfortunate attack on a family at a settlement in the outskirts of Wasinmi Village, Ikire, Osun State, today 14th March, 2021, is not connected with any clash between farmers and herders as speculated in some sections of the media.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, who visited the scene of the incident for an ‘on-the-spot security assessment’, said a discrete investigations has commenced into the incident and that intensive manhunt has commenced for the perpetrators, to bring them to justice.
“The CP notes that preliminary investigations by the police reveal that some yet to be identified gunmen, stormed, attacked and shot sporadically at a family of six at a settlement in the outskirts of Wasinmi Village, Ikire, Osun State, leaving one (1) person injured.
“Police Operatives from Ikire Division and other law enforcement agencies were promptly drafted to the scene to prevent further attacks on residents in the area and arrest the perpetrators but the attackers escaped on sighting the security team.
“The CP appeals to the people of the state, particularly residents of Ikire and its environs, not to panic but collaborate with the police by giving timely information that will assist in arresting the culprits.
“He reassures them of the commitment of the police to their safety, as adequate security measures have been emplaced to forestall future occurrences of such incident.
“The CP also enjoins reporters to verify their news before making it public in order to avoid disinformation that could trigger unnecessary crises capable of disrupting the existing peace being enjoyed in the state.” the statement reads.
In the meantime, Osun Government has condemned the killings of six family members by unknown gunmen.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi who paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family on Sunday, described the killings as disheartening and unfortunate.
Alabi, who was received by scores of family members of the deceased and some leaders in the community, described the incident as a case of brutal assassination.
The deputy governor assured the community that the perpetrators would be brought to book in no distant time.
He added that the state government had ordered the security agencies in the state to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The deputy governor was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bola Oyebamiji and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige.
He urged members of the community and the indigenes of the state to remain calm, while assuring them that the government would continue to provide security across the state.
“This is a very unfortunate incident and we are very sad about it as a government.
“It is shocking and strange to our communities.
“We are here on behalf of the state government to sympathise with you and we are assuring you that those criminal elements that perpetrated this evil act would not go scot-free.
“We have also ordered security agencies to swing into action and fish them out to face the wrath of the law,” the deputy governor said.
He, however, called on members of the community to assist security agents with useful information that could speed up the arrest of the killers.
