*As police takes action, says investigation is ongoing
By OUR REPORTER
Information reaching us at The DEFENDER has it that five persons have been arrested so far over the Friday May 12, 2023 massacre of 11 persons including pregnant woman, kids and other defenceless men in the Fulani settlement area of Iganna, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Our Ibadan source said the arrested included the Balogun of Iganna, Chief Dauda Kareem, and four others.
It was learned that parties, including the locals and the victims sides, had been invited on Tuesday by the Oyo State Police Command during which their statements were both taken.
Earlier today, the chief and four others were arrested and brought to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Ibadan.
Asked to confirm and comment on the development, a source in the Command said investigation was ongoing and that official statement would be issued on it later.
However, a source in Iganna confirmed the arrest to The DEFENDER.
We had on Monday reported in an investigated report, following Saturday’s breaking of the news that, precisely Friday May 12, killer agents suspected to have been consciously mobilised stormed the Fulani settlement in Iganna town during which, estimatedly, 11 persons including a pregnant woman in labour, toddlers and other defenceless members were mauled to death with their homes, numbering up to 300, set ablaze.
According to the reports, our sources had said the situation was so tense that no Fulani leader including those of Miyetti Allah stuff and Fulani community was bold enough to speak to the press because of an alleged threat by Balogun of Iganna, Chief Dauda Kareem, said to have been made in the presence of a deputy commissioner of police and other security officials, and who reportedly put off his shoes swearing by “Ogun the god of iron” and vowing that “We have just started with the killing of Fulani in this place”.
But king of the town, Oba Azeez Salihu Oyemonla, told The DEFENDER that his Balogun was not as culpable as reported. Confronted with the comments credited to his Balogun about killing of Fulani, he said: “It is not true.”
Describing his Balogun, Chief Dauda Kareem, as peace loving person that has been part of friendliness of Iganna towards the Fulani people, Oba Oyemonla said it is on record that Iganna community is one of the most peaceful towns that history can testify to.
He, however, could not rule out utterances possible due to provocation as warranted by the weight of information received on the alleged farm incident but hinged his consolation on the fact that those claims of beating were not even a confirmed information, meaning that his community remains a friendly haven to the Fulani, but highly regretted the incident of killing he repeatedly described as unfortunate.
“The cause is information about beating in the farm. Those who laid the claim have not produced the person that was beaten,” he said, adding that the attacks, which he said he and his Balogun had no hand in, were unfortunate and unnecessary.
Details later…
