Contrary to the widely circulated report that unknown gunmen had, again, attacked Igangan and other parts of Ibarapa on Friday, community leaders have declared that the invaders were men of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Political and traditional leaders of Ibarapa extraction described the evening raid on the Igbo Ora and other communities by men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as unnecessary and not well-thought-out.

The leaders, including the Olu of Igbo Ora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, and the Chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government, Hon. Adeoye Adedoyin, spoke at a meeting held in Igbo Ora with a fact-finding team of the Oyo State Government, led by the Executive Assistant on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd).

The leaders said that it was regrettable that the Customs Service troubled the peace of the area when its men stormed Ibarapaland, shooting sporadically.

The Olu of Igbo Ora, who was first to speak, said that the Customs’ raid left Igbo Ora and other adjoining towns in disarray following the raid that left three persons, including an Amotekun operative dead.

“The raid left so much turmoil in our communities as the Customs men came, shooting sporadically. Many of our people ran helter-skelter.

“We want it stated loud and clear that our communities, Igbo Ora, Igangan and Ayete are not border towns. Why should Customs turn the communities to theatres of bloodshed and war?

“We want Customs to regulate their operations. It will be better if the authorities restrict them to border towns to end unwarranted attacks on innocent communities,” the Olu of Igbo Ora said.

Chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government, Hon. Adedoyin, also told the meeting that the raid left a sour taste in the mouth, as, according to him, peace had returned to the area following the series of security steps taken by the State and Local Government after the last attack on the area by suspected herdsmen.

“We have received the cooperation of state and non-state actors in our efforts aimed at boosting security. The hunters, Amotekun and other security agencies have been cooperating fully, but we were shocked to hear reports of sporadic gunshots and commotion that ensued after a raid by men of Customs Service.

“That raid is regrettable because it threatened the peace of our area,” the Council Chairman said.

Odukoya, the Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde, in his address, called for vigilance and calm among the people, adding that the community policing and integrated policing initiative of the administration has been effective.

He said that the police in the area have confirmed the death of one Amotekun operative and two other persons following the said raid.
The team, which later visited Igangan, Ayete, Tapa, locations in Igbo Ora, was accompanied by traditional rulers and community leaders from across Ibarapa land.

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The former lawmaker further noted that the issue of insecurity is not limited to Igangan, in Ibarapaland alone, but also in every part of the state.

Adigun, who stated this at a press conference organised to address security challenges facing the state, said it is in the record that the immediate- past governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi left a landmark achievements in the area of security and infrastructure, which according to him are the bedrock of development in any society.

He, noted that Governor Makinde lacks experience in the ways he is handling the security challenges facing the state at the moment, adding that; “Makinde is asking Federal Government to lincense AK47 for Amotekun corps when he refused to motivate the gallant corps financially.”

The former chief whip, who is also, a Member of Planing and Technical Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said many residents of Ibadan, the state capital and other areas of the state cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.

Querying what the governor has been doing with his security vote, Adigun said, Oyo state people are more concerned about the development of the state rather than happening in other part of the country.

“Gentle men of the press, it is saddened and disheartening that our state has degenerated to the level that nobody is safe again. Our people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed again. The insecurity is not limited to Igangan alone but in the nooks and crannies of Oyo state. From Beere to Olodo, from Ojo to challenge. No place is safe.

“We heard that the giant stride making by other southwest governors are nothing to Makinde. Our Amotekun corps are not funded as other southwest governors.

“Many of you journalists are also aware of the challenges facing us in the state. Please talk so that Makinde can do something. We cannot continue this way,” he said.

Adigun advised the governor to stop accepting that he had failed the people of the state, especially in the area of security, saying; “it is a mere political statement.”

“Our people are more wiser, intelligent than making political statement on insecurity. If our security agencies are well equipped, all these won’t happen”, the ex-lawmaker submitted.

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Governor Makinde, who stated this while speaking in Igbo Ora, reiterated that he feels the pains of the people of the area, noting that the visit would enable him to find lasting solutions to the lingering insecurity issues in the area.

The governor, in a statement signed by  his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa while stated this while  addressing council chairpersons and political office holders from Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Ibarapa North, in Igbo Ora, late on Sunday.

He disclosed that the state has approved the setting up of Peace and Security Committee at the local government levels, adding that the state government would put in place other security measures to ensure peace in the area.

He also disclosed that the government had directed the immediate take-off of an identity management programme to enable it to know who is who in the  communities.

“The take-home from the interaction for me is that it is a collective problem and I can see the commitment from everybody to find a solution to this.

“And, at least, I am quite glad that some of the initiatives that the government is trying to put in place to stem insecurity are coming to fruition.

“We will ensure that our identity management programme takes off as quickly as possible. We will also ensure the setting up of peace and security committee that is all-encompassing in the councils”, he said.

The governor also urged political office holders to always call the attention of the government to the happenings within their localities, saying that he decided to sleep over in Ibarapa to feel the pulse of the people.

According to the governor, he cannot sleep with two eyes closed in Ibadan if the people of Ibarapa are unable to sleep with two eyes closed.

He added that the the problems of insecurity in Ibarapaland needed to be tackled collectively.

The statement added that the governor commiserated with the families that have lost loved ones to the insecurity situation, saying: “So, this is also to let people know that I feel their pain, because I have had a very close interaction with Dr. Fatai Aborode in the past. I commiserate with his family and many others who have lost loved ones to this situation.

“I feel the pain and I believe that with everybody coming together, we will be able to tackle the problem.

“Also, political office holders need to know that when they see something, they have to say something.”

On the enforcement of anti-grazing law, the governor declared that such is an area where state police would have helped.

He said: “Quite frankly, the governors are at the mercy of federal security agencies to implement certain laws.

“That was why we asked for State Police. In the first instance, it is a constitutional issue and, in the absence of having that, governors in the South West came together and formed Amotekun as a stop gap.

“Problems don’t go away completely. But you have to keep working at it; keep pushing to get to where you really want to be and that is what we will keep doing.

“But the law is there, though the implementation has not been smooth, we will keep working at it.”

On the deployment of additional Amotekun operatives, the governor said: “The 200 Amotekun Corps have been deployed. They are here and we are also supporting them with logistics by bringing four additional operational vehicles for them.”

The meeting had in attendance the speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon.’Debo Ogundoyin, Commissioners, Chairmen and members of Boards and Parastatals, members of the State House of Assembly and all the political appointees from Ibarapa zone.

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Despite moves and assurances given by the Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde to curb the increased insecurity in Ibarapa, Oke -Ogun zones, and the state generally, an indigene of the zone, Bola Olalere last Monday disclosed that they are living under an oppressive fear.

Olalere, a farmer and journalist, also disclosed that tension almost at its highest, while some places are relatively peaceful. He stressed that the indigenes are not secured each time they go to their farms.

According to him, the insecurity could not have been degenerated to this extent if the government has been proactive.  He alleged that the government has refused to do the needful,  due to the tribal loyalty of  President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a Fulani man.

“As we speak, we can’t say Oke-ogun or Igboho is very peaceful, we have always been living  in fear of these herdsmen and the body language from the authority, not only from the Oyo state government but the federal government as well has not been helping us. For example now, I’m leading a group of youths who are investing in cassava , we have gotten several acres of land here, we have planted but majority of our members are afraid of coming down home to do their normal farming business.

“So currently, the tension is high, some places are relatively peaceful, but within ourselves we know that we  are not happy and we are not feeling secured each time we go to the farm and that is the current situation here now”, he said.

The convener of Oke-Ogun Youth Association, while featuring on TV360 news, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine, noted that the acclaimed Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as ‘Sunday Igboho’ is not just a political thug, but rather a liberator who has the courage to do what the government failed to do.

Olalere continued, “We don’t see him (Sunday Igboho)  as a political thug right now, we see him as a liberator of Yoruba race ; we see him as somebody who has courage to do what the government failed to do.

“We are very happy that we have someone that can come up, face and lead this struggle. We have been living with these herders for a very long time in this part of the country. We have not been having it this bad and since the government decided not to do anything or say anything, we have somebody , a son of the soil who is courageous enough to face or  volunteer to lead this battle against these killer herdsmen, we don’t see him as a thug, but we see him rather as a liberator of the people”, he concluded.

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The governor’s aide stated that most of the comments attributed to opposition elements on the security situation in the state missed the point due to pettiness, contempt and clear attempt to play to the gallery.

“Their utter attempt at showmanship and unpatriotic conduct portray them as babes and sucklings intervening on sensitive matters,” he said.

Adisa noted that if opposition elements were true lovers of the state, they should have used the occasion to demonstrate patriotism by empathising with the people of the state and coming up with their own ideas on how to address the situation.

He stressed that merely playing to the gallery only showcases them as ordinary politicians who do not think about the state but solely about the next election.

Governor Makinde’s mouthpiece in a statement issued on Tuesday said contrary to the picture being painted by the opposition, especially the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, and some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which suggested that the government did nothing on the Ibarapa security challenge, the Makinde administration took a number of steps.

In the statement, Adisa also wondered why a Sunday Dare could pass the buck on insecurity to Makinde when it was obvious that the lack of action and apparent dereliction of duty by the APC-led Federal Government brought the entire country to its knees, security-wise.

“Whereas Nigerians can count on their fingers the number of states ravaged by insecurity in 2015, today, none of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, is free of kidnapping, banditry, rape, and other crimes.

“It is unwise and completely unwarranted for Dare to fail to tell the world what positive thing he, as a member of the Federal Executive Council, has contributed to assist the state in its battles against insecurity.

“The state of affairs security-wise in virtually all geopolitical zones of the country has exposed the failure of Dare’s boss and that’s a reality no Nigerian can deny,” the statement said.

According to the governor’s media aide, Makinde had, at the height of the insecurity in Ibarapa, deployed Operation Burst, a state-backed security outfit comprising the Army, Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps and the Police to Ibarapa in large numbers.

“The governor had also caused to be deployed, men and officers of MOPOL 72, located strategically in Ago-Are in Oke-Ogun axis”, Adisa submitted.

He  added that the government followed-up  that deployment with the mass deployment of the men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, to Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axes to quench the rising insecurity.

Adisa explained  that the mass deployment of security operatives to the area had begun to yield positive results in the last few weeks, stating that on January 9, the Amotekun Corps worked with Vigilante Group of Nigeria, local hunters, and Miyetti Allah Vigilantes to comb forests straddling four local governments in Ibarapa and Iwajowa Local Government Areas of Oke-Ogun.

He maintained that as a fallout of that exercise, which was abruptly called off due to the massive deployment of fake news by haters of the Oyo people, the teams neutralized suspected kidnappers and criminals in Ayete area, while a number of the suspects were arrested and handed over to the Police.

Adisa said that the narrative being carved by the opposition, suggesting that Makinde had been idling away, was baseless and reckless, stating that the fact that the Makinde administration has not been engaging in showmanship on efforts to tame insecurity should not be taken as doing nothing.

The statement continued, “We have noted with concern the fickle-mindedness being demonstrated by opposition elements in Oyo State, especially individuals like the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare.

“It is sad that Mr. Dare has revealed himself as a small mind by playing to the gallery on insecurity in Oyo State, which is a fallout of the failure of the Federal Government on security issues.

“It is equally sad that such an individual serving in a government under whose watch the security system of the country has collapsed could turn around to point fingers at Makinde.

“While one would not have loved to join issues with Dare and other individuals whose desperation for relevance can make them stop at nothing, including setting their own state on fire, it becomes imperative to correct the erroneous statement that Governor Makinde is being cowed by fear in the handling of state matters.

“For the avoidance of doubt, before those fanning the embers of ethnic crisis and their Hosanna crowd went to town with their showmanship gimmicks, the government had made serious efforts to tame the insecurity situation in Ibarapa.

“Apart from initiating several peace meetings between Yoruba and Fulani residents of the axes, the government took steps to deploy a heavy security presence to Ibarapa and at a point, even backed a community-based effort to rid the forests of kidnappers and bandits.

“It would be recalled that the government had backed a similar approach in Kisi, Igbeti and Igboho axes of the state and was able to achieve a great success without necessarily making noise in the media about it.

“But since Dare, like his co-travelers in the APC, have ignorantly ventured into a matter they have little or no knowledge about, it has become important to point out to them that governance is not done by engaging in pointless garrulous displays in the media.

“It is equally sad that whereas Mr. Dare could pontificate about insecurity in the media, he has failed to do the same at the Executive Council chambers of Aso Rock which hosts the Federal Executive Council meetings, which obviously could have helped the APC government arrest the insecurity situation in the country.

“For sometime now, Dare and his journeymen have been grandstanding on issues in their home state, though they have failed to use their offices to canvass the same positions at the Federal Executive Council or make any meaningful impact in the state.

“We would like to adminish Dare and his fellows in the rat race for 2023 governorship to toe the path of honour and stop advertising ignorance and displaying unpatriotic tendencies when it comes to issues affecting the state.

“Let them adhere to the well-accepted maxim: power belongs to God and only He decides whom it fits at every instance”, it concluded.

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The government disclosed further that some are already charged to court, while others would soon have their days in court.

The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni (rtd), who led the government’s delegation, alongside the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko to the trouble spots of Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun areas where they conducted on-the-spot assessment of the tenson-soaked communities, also assured that the government would ensure justice prevails in the cases involving the arrested lot, adding, however, that the people must remain vigilant.

Communities visited include, Igangan, Tede and Ago-Are.

Owoseni, who debunked insinuations that the Seyi Makinde -led administration has abandoned the people to their fate, disclosed that government has been working closely with the Police to fish out criminal elements in the state.

He urged the people to be vigilant and ensure they identify the criminal elements among them for prosecution by the Police, declaring that no one should take laws into their hands.

“If you see something, say something,” Owoseni advised residents of the visited communities.

The delegation also visited the razed home of the Seriki Fulani in Igangan, where it assessed the extent of damage and promised thorough investigation.

“Let us put sentiment and politics aside, from what we heard, it is not as if the Ibarapa community is against one ethnic group. What they are claiming and the allegation they have made is that a particular person, who they are now seeing to symbolise an entire ethnic group, has been misbehaving. It is just like what the governor has been saying; that there is trust-deficit between the people and the government, mistrust between the people and law enforcement agencies.

“If you look at the catalogue of what has been said, they feel they have not been given justice and they feel that someone has been stalling justice.

“They feel that someone has been dropping names in order to oppress the community. I believe that with the steps that have been taken to mend all these gaps and with the assurance that the Commissioner of Police has given that they will look at all the cases again, there will be a change”, he said.

Speaking specifically on investigations and arrests, the retired Police Commissioner said: “There are a lot of narratives that have not been given out.

“Everybody believes that kidnapping, assasination had taken place in Igangan and it seems the government was not doing anything.

“Truth is, 51 suspects have been in detention for various offences that bother on this kidnapping.

“Arrests were made. Some have been arraigned in court. Some are awaiting trial. For some, investigation are still ongoing, which we made them know.

“Everyone will learn lessons, especially the police officer that was accused of complicity in some of these cases.

“The CP has given that assurance that every victim will get justice and all the allegations they have made as to the Seriki colluding with criminals, will be looked into”, the former Commissioner of Police submitted.

Owoseni added that it was wrong for anyone to take laws into his hands, adding that the people must learn to trust security agencies to achieve peace in their areas.

He said of the communal clash between Tede and Ago Are: “This is an evidence of what the governor is doing on the security situation in the state. While the crisis in Igangan was brewing, that was when we heard that these two communities – Tede and Ago-Are – were also at war.

“The purpose of coming here today is to nip in the bud this communal fight. There is an immediate and remote cause but in order to quickly make it not to fester, we are here.”

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Ojo, described the Ibarapa-born billionaire  as a patriot, politician and leader who have contributed to the advancement of the nation’s democracy as well as nurtured many individuals to greatness.

The ex-council gaffer states this  in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Ibadan  the state capital.

Ayandele was an APC governorship aspirant in the 2019 general election and presently a senatorial hopeful.

According to the ex-ALGON Chief, the renowned businessman and philanthropist had brought great political, economic as well as social success to the state and Nigeria.

“I feel inspired and motivated most times by your doggedness, forthrightness and knack for truth at all times. You are leader worthy of emulation.

“I celebrate you my dear brother and leader. Your courage, character, wisdom, strength and simplicity stands you out always. May the Almighty fill your future with blessings, ” he said.

Also, Mr Olusola Adeleke, a Personal Assistant to Ayandele, joined to felicitate his boss whom he described as reliable, dependable and visionary boss.

He   described Ayandele as a renowned businessman, philanthropist, leader and political gargantuan with uncommon sagacity.

“Your commitment and selfless service to humanity has brought tremendous development to Ibarapaland, Oyo State as well as Nigeria. You are a rare gem boss and you will forever be appreciated.

“I wish you more years of sound health, peace and glory as you celebrate. Happy birthday to my dear boss,” he submitted.

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Olaoya remarked while celebrating the  60th birthday of the Ibarapa-born Ayandele who is a staunch player in the business and political space of the country.

In a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday and which he personally signed, Olaoya expressed his delight about Ayandele being always available to help the cause of the poor and less-privileged in the society.

“For the good people of Ibarapaland, Oyo state and Nigeria in general, the man (Olusola Ayandele) is a rare blessing and he deserves to be celebrated everyday having made a lot of difference as a businessman, politician and philanthropist for a very long time.

“As an academic and scholar, Ayandele made his indelible mark by imparting knowledge on a great population of young people. And more importantly, his positive contribution to the economy of Nigeria cannot be underestimated as he is leading investor and creator of employment opportunities of all time. To crown it all, Dr. Ayandele decided to dabble into partisan politics to enable him do more for the society and he has not disappointed his people.

“To this end, it is worthwhile to join several thousands of people globally to celebrate the enigma known as Eruobodo on this auspicious occasion of his 60th birthday anniversary as we pray God to grant him the opportunity of long life, sound health and prosperity”, the statement  added.

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Weaponising ethnicity with a view to destroying AMOTEKUN will meet with a solid brickwall and it will, also, not work.

And because they failed in their bid to stop the launch of AMOTEKUN, they have now resorted to twisting facts and creating their own bubble of alternative and fictional reality. They will fail again as they failed before.

Placed side by side, facts will always trump fiction, lies and incitement.

That AMOTEKUN strategically launched six counter-banditry, counter-kidnapping and counter-terrorism operations in four local governments, simultaneously, on Saturday, deserves credit.

Yet, more deserving of credit is the inclusive nature of the rainbow coalition that went after the criminals.

It comprised Amotekun, Vigilantes, Hunters and Miyetti Allah Vigilante.

In fact, not just members of Miyetti Allah, but some Fulani were part of the operations, with the Seriki being fully briefed about the operations.

Some lives were lost; some sustained injuries. Those killed in the process were criminals and not herdsmen.

And, the coalition, led by men of AMOTEKUN,  succeeded in sending a very clear message to criminals terrorising the people: that enough is enough.

But strange and stranger narratives are being woven round AMOTEKUN’s noble effort to rid the thick forests of Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North, as well as Iwajowa Local Government Areas, of kidnappers and bandits.

Some of the victims of the criminals have been Fulani as well as Yoruba and other tribes.

Which explains why AMOTEKUN worked in concert with Miyetti Allah and Fulani supporters who have been victims of kidnapping.

Those who are struggling to sell the lie that AMOTEKUN killed Fulani are doing so with the wicked intent of creating ethnic tensions. They will fail.

Meanwhile, arrests were made, pieces of useful information are being extracted, and the criminals have been handed over to the Police.

One of the strange and contradictory deductions is that the same media warriors and politicians condemning insecurity in Oyo State, are the same Vuvuzelas and mouth organs being used to misrepresent, misinform and churn out false narratives about the exploits of AMOTEKUN.

If the intention is to dampen the morale of corps members, it will fail. If the plot is to paint Oyo State or parts of Yorubaland as ungovernable, they will equally fail.

There are gaps being filled in the bid to make AMOTEKUN more responsive and professional and His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, has assured of that.

Whereas there is a cogent and verifiable  consensus that stereotyping, criminalising and profiling members of any ethnic group do not help matters, one is then left to wonder why it is now fashionable for some enemies of the state to empathize with criminals by deploying ethnicity? Why are some people weaponising ethnicity against AMOTEKUN’s onslaught in it’s war on criminals? Do they want to destroy it? They will fail.

This is Yorubaland and those toying with the cobra of banditry and criminality should look up to other areas of Nigeria that have become playing fields for bandits. It is this same type of indulgent narrative, of twisting facts and misinforming people of the real dangers these criminals represent, that has made bandits,  criminals and terrorists to take over some parts of the country; where some governors have got no other option than to negotiate with bandits and criminals.

We are daily being served chilling and horrific tales of criminals and bandits who now hold state governments to ransom and engage in profitable negotiated settlements of crimes and criminality.

Governor Makinde will not tolerate that. His principal responsibility is the welfare and protection of lives and properties of all the indigenes and residents of Oyo State, irrespective of politico-religious and ethnic background.

The people pushing false narratives simply want to distract Governor Makinde.

But the Governor remains resolute and focussed, deploying the Blue Ocean approach to governance, an approach that has seen him devise creative means of doing projects at a time of cash crunch; he received commendation for his handling of Covid-19 and #EndSARS protests; as well as his novel welfare package for workers and pensioners in Oyo State.

This is our Oyo State and we must not allow enemies of the state to succeed. This is Yorubaland and criminals should not be allowed to do harm to our people.

Let us join hands to secure our dear Oyo State and Yorubaland.

Jide Ajani, Special Adviser, Media,

to Governor Seyi Makinde writes from Ibadan, Oyo State

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The Commandant, who addressed newsmen in Ibadan explained that his men launched six operations in four local government areas but that the team in Aiyete was attacked inside the forest by suspected bandits, three of whom were killed by his men.

According to him, the operations were fully supported by Fulani leaders living in the areas, adding that a number of Miyetti Allah members were part of our operations.

A statement by the Commandant, which was made available to newsmen after the media briefing further added that Amotekun operatives raided the forests of Ibarapa and Oke Ogun areas of the state in the early hours of Saturday to rid the areas of kidnappers and criminal elements.

Col. Olayanju, who equally paraded one of the suspected kidnap kingpins, Sanni Bello, said he was arrested in the forests around Aiyegun axis, in Iwajowa Local Government Area, adding that the Amotekun worked closely with officials of Miyetti Allah, whose family members have equally suffered kidnapping in recent times.

The statement by the Amotekun Commandant also indicated that the operation around the forests was embarked upon following incessant reports of killings and kidnapping in the area.

The statement read: “Contrary to any report you might have come across, there was no clash whatsoever between Fulani herdsmen and Amotekun in Ibarapa or Oke Ogun axes of Oyo State.

“What happened was that we launched clearance operations in different locations around the thick forests of the four local governments that have suffered kidnapping and wanton killings in recent times.

“When our men entered the forests at Aiyede, they were attacked, leading to a gun battle where three of the attackers died. One of our men sustained injuries.

“It is not a clash with the fulani because the Fulanis were part of the planning of the operation and we raided the forests together. We are in touch with Seriki who is the leader of the Fulani in the area. Even after our men were withdrawn Saturday afternoon, we got reports that some Fulani were kidnapped in one location close to the area of operation. So they are working with us because they are also victims of the dastardly acts of kidnapping in the area.

“The incessant kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives necessitated the planning of a clearance operation from Lanlate, Igbo Ora, Igangan, Iganna and Aiyegun general areas in Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North as well as Iwajowa Local Government Areas.

“There were six teams in all comprising members of Amotekun, Vigilantes, Hunters and Maiyetti Allah Vigilante.

“All the six teams had elements of these groups ( joint team). “However, at Igbo Ora, one of the teams had an encounter with two armed men, effected their arrest and recovered one double barrel rifle. All suspects and weapon were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO Magoro Police Station, Igbo Ora at about 9am on Saturday.

“In a related development, another team was attacked at about 9.30am in Igangan forest, Ibarapa North while on the clearance operations at a settlement. The attack was repelled resulting to serious injury on one member of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and three other suspects. Two dane guns were recovered at the scene.

“In Iwajowa LGA, one of the teams also arrested a kidnap kingpin operating around Aiyegun axis. He was arrested with a locally made pistol and cartridges.

“However, the operation was suspended at about 12 noon on Saturday to allow for further stock taking”, the statement explained

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