…Gov Abiodun vows to deal with perpetrators, deploys task force to troubled areas
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Gun wielding herdsmen struck again on Thursday morning at Owode-Ketu community, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State leaving at least two people dead.
Those killed were said to be among the people who were allegedly ambushed and attacked by the killer herdsmen along Owode-Ijoun-Tata Road around 5a.m.
This is coming on the heels of last week murder of one Dele Olowoniyi at Oha Village in Imeko-Afon local government area of the state by some blood thirsty herdsmen.
According to a source in the town, corpses of the victims identified as Isiaka Apesin and Oguntosin Adebayo, were later discovered in the bush and they had been evacuated by the police from Eggua Divisional Police headquarters.
The source further told our Correspondent that the victims of the early morning attack were shot in the chest and head regions, respectively by the attackers.
Speaking with our Correspondent, Youth Leader of Owode-Ketu town, Sina Olaleye, said the duo were on their way to the market when they were ambushed and killed.
He confirmed that the corpses had been evacuated by the police. He, however, lamented the incessant attacks by the herders and called on the state government to rescue Ketu people from the menace of violent herders.
Olaleye added that the attackers were later located by the police in the bush with assault rifles and other dangerous weapons, but the police were unable to arrest them.
The Baale of the town, Reverend Sanya Fabuyi, said Owode-Ketu has been under the siege of herders, pointing out the latest attack was one of many unprovoked attacks that had led to the death of many indigenes of the town.
He said information at his disposal revealed that the herders who carried out the Thursday morning attack, when later located in the bush, wore bullet proof vests and armed with sophisticated weapons.
“As I am speaking with you, my town is under the siege of herdsmen. My people are living in fears, we are at the mercy of these marauders. Those who carried out this latest attack, I was informed had bullet proof vests on and carried AK-47 rifles. Even, police are helpless to approach them in the bush where they were located after the attack.
“I am appealing to the state government, to as a matter of urgency, release us from the captivity of the herders, who are killing our people and destroying our farms, which remain the major source of our livelihood.” Reverend Fabuyi stated.
When contacted on phone, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi, who said no suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, explained that the police with the support of local vigilance group, hunters and youths, have gone on the trail of the suspects from the Eggua and Igbogila ends of the bush.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, handed down a warning to perpetrators of violence in Owode-ketu, Eegua, Igan-Alade and Igbogila areas of the state, saying that his administration would leave no stone unturned in curtailing the activities of brigands in the state.
This was just as he deployed a special task force comprising the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, including the State Security Service and local vigilante groups, with representatives of other stakeholders entities in the crises-prone areas of Yewa-North, Imeko-Afon and Yewa South Council Areas of the state.
In recent times the areas have witnessed criminal assaults and killings, leading to the closure of schools, public institutions and business facilities.
Governor Abiodun directed that investigations be sped up and concluded so that indicted persons could be charged to court and prosecuted in the interest of justice.
He said: “The government will leave no stone unturned in checking the activities of brigands and criminals in this state. 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.
“The provisions of the Constitution and the moral authority confer on the government the right to protect the lives and properties of the people. This is sacrosanct and shall not be compromised under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s watch”, a statement issued in Abeokuta by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said.
Last weekend, Governor Abiodun set up an investigation team to investigate and bring to book, all the persons involved in the herders/farmers conflicts in the state.
“Our first priority in Ogun is the safety of lives and property of everyone and we will not compromise on that.
“We will not condone any act of criminality in the state, no matter who is involved.
“The police and other security agencies have been directed to go after the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to book.
“We will not allow anybody to disrupt the peace in Ogun and anyone who tries to test our resolve to maintain peace in our state will have himself or herself to blame,’’ the governor was quoted as saying.
Governor Abiodun commiserated with the families of the deceased and also expressed sympathy to those who lost their farmlands as well as cows during the unfortunate crisis.