- Says South West ready to defend its people, property against internal and external aggression
We call on our people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities.
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has vehemently condemned the cruel killings of the people of Igangan town and the destructions of their properties in an invasion of the ancient town by suspected Fulani herders.
Akeredolu who fumed in reaction to the malicious destruction and cruel killings described the attack as a “cowardly onslaught on a peaceful community” adding that it “has occasioned loss of lives and property on a large scale. It is horrendous, callous, and highly provocative.”
Igangan is a town in the Oke-Ogun area, Oyo North Senatorial District of the State in the South West Region of Nigeria.
The gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen had invaded the town on Saturday night and left early Sunday morning.
Several residents were reportedly killed in the merciless attack.
The Ondo State governor is the Chairman, South West Governors’ Forum
In his reaction via a Facebook post on Sunday evening, Governor Akeredolu said, “We on our part are resolved to defend our people, their property, and all legitimate means of livelihood against both internal and external aggression.”
Read the full statement below;
IGANGAN PROVOCATIVE ONSLAUGHT ONE TOO MANY
We have just received with rude shock premeditated attack on our people at Igangan, Ibarapa, Oyo State, in the early hours of today. This cowardly onslaught on a peaceful community has occasioned loss of lives and property on a large scale. It is horrendous, callous, and highly provocative. All well-meaning Nigerians must condemn, in the strongest term possible, this latest assault on decency and communal harmony.
While we will encourage the security agencies to get to the root of this latest act of provocation, we have directed the Commanders of the South West Security Network, Amotekun, to convoke a joint security meeting of all Commanders in the South West with a view to commencing joint operations in the region immediately.
We must reiterate the fact that certain elements are bent on causing friction among the peoples of this country with the sole aim of achieving a pernicious end. They will stop at nothing until their set goal is realized. It is, therefore, incumbent on all lovers of peace and freedom to rise against this current regression into savagery.
We on our part are resolved to defend our people, their property, and all legitimate means of livelihood against both internal and external aggression. On this, there will be no compromise. We call on our people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities. In addition, they must be united in the task of defending our lives and properties.
We cannot afford to fail.
SIGNED
ARAKUNRIN OLUWAROTIMI O. AKEREDOLU, SAN
CHAIRMAN SOUTH WEST GOVERNORS’ FORUM AND GOVERNOR, ONDO STATE
