The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, on Sunday declared in clear terms that with the killing of over 50 people in Igangan town, Ibarapa, Oke Ogun area of Oyo state, it is evident that war is imminent in the country.
Adams, while condemning the gruesome murder of innocent residents of the town, warned Fulani herdsmen and bandits to stay away from the South West or be ready 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 killed, cars burnt and over 20 houses razed.
Speaking shortly after news of the killings and destruction filtered in, with gory videos of the massacre, Iba Adams said the North had waged war against the South West and had also unleashed terror on the region, stressing the need for the region to rise and defend themselves without looking back.
He 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 Iganganland, 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 South West Security Network Amotekun, General 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.”
Lamenting the failure of the Federal Government to rise to the security challenges, Adams 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 South West as well as the traditional rulers to rise to this occasion.”
The Yoruba Generalissimo, however, warned criminal herders to stay away from the region as the South West can no longer accommodate killers.
“OPC (Oodua People’s Congress) and other local security operatives will 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.”
Adams admitted that information at his disposal indicated that bandits and killer herdsmen have invaded the South West, thus pushing the 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.
