15 killed in attack on Igangan where Fulani herders were evicted

A night attack by unidentified people on Igangan, a southern Oyo town has left over a dozen people killed and millions of property destroyed.

Igangan was in the news recently when Yoruba activist led some people to chase Fulani herdsmen out of their settlements in the town over incessant violent crimes, such as rape, abduction for ransom and killings.

In the attack carried out by unknown people from midnight to early hours of Sunday, June 6, 2021, many people were hacked to death, while the palace of the Oba of Igangan, other houses, shops and filling station were set ablaze.

Videos and still pictures from the attack have flooded the internet. Those who made the recordings accused Fulani herdsmen of being responsible for the attack.

At least six persons were seen in the video lying on the ground with machete cuts on them. The voices behind the camera said the people were in their homes when they were attacked and hacked to death.

MSN learnt that the hunters of the town regrouped and together with the police launched counter-attack on the assailants, killing five of them and forcing the rest to flee.

Recall that Fulani families and their leader, Abdulkadir Salihu, who were living in Igangan, were forcibly removed from the town in January by aggrieved indigenous Yoruba population inspired by Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo.

The Yoruba accused Mr Salihu, the Sarkin Fulani, of masterminding or enabling the Fulani attacks, including rape, murder, destruction of farms, and abductions. Mr Salihu denied the allegations.

The Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde, has reacted to the incident, describing the news as “shocking” in a statement on Facebook. He said he was getting briefed on the development.