Police probe Amotekun, herders’ crisis in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has taken over the full investigation of the alleged clash between the operatives of the state security network known as Amotekun corps and some herdsmen in Ibarapa North Local Government Area, Daily Trust reports.

The case has been transferred to the homicide department of the state police command, it was gathered.

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A special team in the homicide unit was said to have been detailed to unravel the circumstances and the complexities surrounding the case.

The state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has also dispatched a fact-finding team to the Fulani settlement allegedly raided on Saturday.

Daily Trust reports that the alleged clash left four Fulani herdsmen dead, including one Alhaji Usman Okebi, who was said to be the Deputy Sarkin Fulani of the state.

The herders in the Okebi town, where the incident happened, insisted it was a premeditated attack on the Fulani settlement by the Amotekun Corps.

The corps however claimed there was a clash between its men and some suspected kidnappers, which led to the death of the herders.

Amidst the claim and counter-claim, the state police command has detailed a team in its Homicide Department to investigate the case.

The team, according to sources, will similarly probe another incident also involving Amotekun Corps and the Youth of Tapa Community on January 3, where two youths died.

The team led by the officer in charge of homicide in the state police command on Wednesday visited the crime scene, which is about two kilometres from Aiyete Divisional Police Headquarters.

Meanwhile, the state governor has sent a team from Ibadan to the scene where the alleged clash took place at Okebi.

The team was in the company of the State Commander of Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju, as well as police officers from Aiyete Police Station and visited the Okebi Fulani settlement.

The delegation also visited Fedegbo village where another incident occurred also between the herders and Amotekun operatives.

A government source, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, said Governor Makinde was interested in unraveling what really transpired on Saturday.

“This is why he has asked his Executive Assistant on Security Matters, Sunday Odukoya to go to the villages where these incidents happened so that he can have first-hand information on the alleged crises between the herders and our Amotekun security outfit,” the source said.

When contacted on the latest development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olugbeniga Fadeyi did not pick his phone while a text message sent to him was not replied as of press time.