Amotekun commander denies clash with Fulani herdsmen in Oyo State
Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
The Commandant of Oyo State Security Network Agency, code name ‘Operation Amotekun’, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), has said that there were no clashes between his men and Fulani herdsmen in Ibarapa land and Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State.
Penpushing reports that Olayanju explained that the operatives only 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, adding that the operation around the forests was embarked upon following incessant reports of killings and kidnapping in the area.
The Commandant, while addressing journalists 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.
Penpushing further reports that, he added that the operations were fully supported by Fulani leaders living in the areas, stating that a number of Miyetti Allah members were even part of the operations.
The commander, 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.
“Contrary to any report you might have come across, there was no clash whatsoever between Fulani herdsmen and Amotekun in Ibarapa or Oke Ogun axis 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 and a gun battle ensued, which led to the death of three of the attackers. One of our men sustained injuries, it was not a clash with the Fulani, because Fulanis were part of the planning of the operation and we raided the forests together’.
“We were in touch with Seriki who is the leader of the Fulani in the area. Even after our men were withdrawn on Saturday afternoon, we got reports that some Fulani were kidnapped in one location close to the area of operation.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 in Lanlate, Igbo Ora, Igangan, Iganna and Aiyegun general areas in Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North as well as Iwajowa Local Government Areas’.
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