Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams on Sunday declared that with the killing of over 50 people in Igangan town, Ibarapa, Oke Ogun area of Oyo state, war has become imminent in the country.
Adams, who condemned the gruesome murder of innocent residents of the town, warned Fulani herdsmen and bandits to stay away from the South-West or prepare to face stiff resistance.
The killings in the early hours of Sunday brought the entire Igangan town and its environs to its kneels with over 50 people, cars burnt and over 20 houses razed.
Adams, who spoke shortly after news of the killings and destruction filtered in, with gory videos of the massacre, said the North had waged war against the Southwest and had also unleashed terror on the region.
He stressed the need for the people of the South-West to rise and defend themselves with every means at their disposal.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo said, “In a situation like this, you rise and defend yourself. Where are the police when the bandits started killing our people in Igangan today? Even the palace of Asigangan of Igangan land,Oba Adewuyi Olaoye, was not spared and the monarch, according to reports had been whisked away by the bandits.
“Three days ago,the Director-General of Oyo State Southwest Security Network Amotekun,Gen. Kunle Togun(retd) raised the alarm that herdsmen had invaded the South-West. I corroborated his statements and called for urgent surveillance across the South-West. Now with the recent onslaught on Igangan people, it is evident that the Fulani herdsmen are on a predetermined mission to kill, maim and decimate the South-West.
“This is one killing too many, I will not fold my arms seeing the blood of innocent people being shed like it is in Igangan.”
Adams, who also regretted the failure of the Federal Government to rise to the security challenges, said “now that the North had declared war on the South-West, we will never be silent or compromise on the homicide going on in the South-West. I want to charge all the governors in the southwest,as well as the traditional rulers to rise to this occasion.”
Adams, however, warned criminal herders to stay away from the region, as the South-West can no longer accommodate killers, adding that the OPC and other local vigilantes would collaborate with security operatives to continue to ensure that the region is safe for residents.
“Those killed in Igangan town have their families and friends, there is blood flowing in their veins, and in a moment their lives were cut short by killer herdsmen and bandits in their home,” he said.
Adams admitted that information at his disposal indicated that bandits and killer herdsmen had invaded the South-West, thus pushing security outfits to the wall.
He, however, urged all the governors to beef up the security of their respective states in order to provide adequate security for the people of the region.