TheCable

Four persons have been allegedly kidnapped after attacks by gunmen on several communities across Igangan in Ibarapa area of Oyo state.

There have been reports of kidnapping and clashes between herders and farmers in Ibarapa, and in February, Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader popularly known as Sunday Igboho, had issued an eviction notice to herders in the area, after blaming them for insecurity in the LGA.

In a special report by TheCable, residents had also narrated their experiences with herders in the area.

Abiodun Olagoke, a youth leader and member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the town, told TheCable on Thursday that the four persons were the latest victims of abduction after the release of an Igangan prince in February.

“Kidnapping has returned to Ibarapa, and Igangan is the target now. We are in the forest in Oyankalu, Konko area of Igangan right now expecting policemen from Ayete division. We are combing the area,” he said.

“On Tuesday, two women were kidnapped. One of them is from Asunara in Igangan. In the early hours of Wednesday, another two persons were kidnapped in Konko, near the area where Iskilu Wakili (a Fulani leader who was arrested by OPC and handed over to the police) once lived.

“Four days ago, a man was shot in his farm several times. They ran after him when they realised that the gun had no effect on him but he escaped. We picked several spent bullets from the scene of the attack, and we have handed them over to the police.

“Another man was injured in Oyankalu village by the herders. He is in the hospital now. Some other persons who were kidnapped in Tapa on Tuesday have been released. One of them is called Adedibu, a farmer in Igangan.”

Olagoke said despite efforts to improve security in the area, abduction of residents has continued.

He called on the state commissioner of police to increase the number of officers posted to the area.

However, when contacted, Olugbenga Fadeyi, the police public relations officer in the state, said the abduction was unsuccessful, and added that the police are on the trail of the perpetrators.

“It was a case of foiled abduction. They were not able to abduct them, while the police is still on the trail of the assailants to arrest and bring them to book,” he said.