What could have been a bloodbath in Oyo State has been averted by the quick action of security agents, who arrested some armed men with guns and other dangerous weapons, apparently on a revenge mission.
The armed men, numbering about 47, were arrested in Igangan, by men of Operation Burst, a joint security team, that includes soldiers.
The armed hoodlums, suspected to be Fulanis were travelling in three buses. They were arrested early on Sunday at Ofiki River along Tapa/Igangan road in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.
Sources said the armed Fulanis were invited for a revenge attack by their kinsmen in the area following the raid carried out by the men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, also known as Operation Amotekun in the axis on Saturday.
Amotekun said it raised hideouts of kidnappers in the area on Saturday leading to the death of three persons while one of its men was also injured.
The Coordinator of Odua People’s Congress in Oyo State, Rotimi Olumo, confirmed the incident.
The OPC coordinator in Ibarapa Zone, Olanrewaju Ogedengbe, said the armed men were loaded in three buses.
He said, “47 of them were arrested at Ofiki River. They were caught with Dane guns and after their buses were searched, sophisticated guns, bows, and arrows, charms, catapults, and bullets were also found.
“I heard that security men have come to arrest the Seriki Fulani. He was arrested this morning. Those arrested said they were brought from Ilorin, Iseyin, and other places. They wore VGN uniforms (Vigilante Group of Nigeria).”
Omotekun explained over the weekend that it carried out the raid in collaboration with Miyetti Allah Vigilante, hunters, and others.
Olayinka Olayanju, retired Army Colonel and Commandant Amotekun in Oyo State, had explained that contrary to reports making the rounds, there were no clashes between his men and Fulani herdsmen in Ibarapa land and Oke Ogun axes of Oyo State.
Olayanju said that Amotekun launched a six-pronged operation covering four local government areas of the state.
He said however that the team in Ayete was attacked inside the forest by suspected bandits. Three of the bandits were killed by his men, he added.
