Ibarapa crisis: Oyo CP threatens to arrest Sunday Igboho

Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, Ngozi Onadeko, has vowed that the masterminds of the attack on a Fulani community in Igangan, Ibarapa local government area of the state, will be brought to justice.

Settlements belonging to Fulanis were destroyed during a violence that erupted in Igangan on Friday.

The violence came after a youth leader, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, addressed his supporters in Ibarapa after a 7-day eviction notice served on herdsmen.

The protesters reportedly set ablaze vehicles and buildings belonging to the Fulani group.

In a statement by Police spokesman in Oyo, Olugbenga Fadeyi, on Sunday, the CP condemned Igboho’s visit, lamenting that the visit truncated the relative “peace and calmness” being enjoyed in the town.

Onadeko, who stated that a police officer was injured in the mayhem while discharging his duties, called for calm.

The police chief vowed that the violent protest will be investigated and the culprits will be made to face the law.

“Sadly, the relative peace and calmness, being enjoyed, due to the visibility patrols of the security agencies were truncated by the visit of Sunday Igboho to Igangan, at about 1630hrs on 22nd January 2021,” the statement read in part.

“The visit had culminated in a mob action by some youths in the town, who, armed with different types of weapons, embarked on arson and a breach of peace. In the process, grievous hurt was committed against one of the police officers, while discharging his statutory duties.

“The commissioner of police will like to reiterate that the security agencies will not watch while some criminal elements take laws into their hands.

“Investigation into the arson and the breach of the peace, which occurred at Igangan will be investigated to logical conclusion and culprits shall be brought to justice.”

On Friday, Governor Seyi Makinde charged Onadeko to clamp down on criminal elements stoking ethnic tensions in Oyo State.