The Nigeria Police have vowed to bring to justice the persons who were responsible for the arson and other criminal actions that took place Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday.
This was declared on Sunday by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, through a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi.
The crisis in Igangan erupted on Friday following the visit to the place by Chief Sunday Adeyemo, who is popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
Igboho visited Ibarapa to enforce a seven-day quit notice he had given to Fulani herdsmen living in the place, which was expired that day.
On Friday, Igboho and his supporters were reported to have moved into the Fulani settlement in the town to eject the Seriki (leader of) Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, and some other herdsmen accused of being behind the rising cases of kidnapping in the area.
Igboho had accused the Fulani leader of being part of the kidnapping gangs operating in the area. According to him, the leader was involved in the settlement and receipt of ransom paid by kidnap victims.
Some reports said that youths in area set ablaze some properties following which the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, ordered that Igboho should be arrested and brought to Abuja.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in an interview with BBC Hausa.
According to Adeyemo one police officer was injured during the crisis.
“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 said.
“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.”
