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INVESTIGATION: Inside the Igangan abductions, killings that exposed Oyo’s herder crisis
Destruction of farmlands by cattle - and herders - is barely avoidable in Nigeria s outdated open grazing system and criminals are taking advantage. 13 min read
Before Igangan, 177 kilometres from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was propelled to national attention in the past weeks, Taiwo Adeagbo, a local farmer-leader, had collected several photographs, depicting bloodied and savagely hacked human bodies. His collection also includes the photograph of a rape victim, lying sick with a machete cut.
The forceful removal of the Fulani population in the town by a group inspired by Sunday “Igboho” Adeyemo, a self-acclaimed Yoruba warlord, had catapulted Igangan into national prominence.
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Olufemi Olaniyi
Pa Okanlawon Ogunleke would still be alive today but for killer herdsmen who allegedly invaded and attacked him on his farm located in Ibarapa area of Oyo State. The octogenarian and the town dwellers were enraged and saddened by the development. The old man was said to have been beaten and macheted by his assailants. He was taken to hospital where he eventually died. Our correspondent gathered that many attacks had happened before then and even after in the area.
In June 2020, Saidu Odugbemi, who is from Tapa, was kidnapped and one of his friends told our correspondent that the family coughed up N7.2m ransom to secure his release. Not done with the family, the kidnappers struck in November again and this time, Saidu’s immediate brother, Shefiu, was also kidnapped. A ransom of N5m was paid with pleadings before he was released by the criminals.
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One of the four farmers attacked at Igangan in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, Seun Isaiah, has accused policemen at a checkpoint of looking on while the Fulani herdsmen attacked them.
It would be recalled that Isaiah was reported to have died in the attack, however, he survived the incident despite sustaining a cut on his head.
He recounted his ordeal in a video from his hospital bed when the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Sunday Odukoya, visited him.
He said he and three others were returning home on the same motorcycle when the Fulani herdsmen inflicted machete cuts on them, leaving him with a heavily bandaged head.
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Olufemi Olaniyi, Ibadan
One of the farmers attacked at Igangan in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, Seun Isaiah, has said Fulani herdsmen living in the community attacked him and three others in the presence of some policemen.
Isaiah, who was reported to be one of the two persons who died following the attack allegedly carried out by herdsmen, survived the onslaught despite the injury inflicted on his head.
He spoke on Saturday in a video made available to our correspondent in Ibadan.
According to the Convener, Igangan Development Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, who made the video available to our correspondent, the victim recounted his ordeal at the hospital when the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Sunday Odukoya, visited him (Isaiah) at the hospital where he was being treated.