Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have carried out fresh attacks in Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
The attacks were carried out in different locations in Ibarapa land despite the arrest of Iskilu Wakili, the alleged kingpin of kidnappings and banditry in the area.
It was gathered that two people including one Miss Sodirat Salami were abducted in the latest attacks.
Confirming the attack in a statement, the Convener of Igangan Development Advocate, Mr Oladiran Oladokun, said Salami was kidnapped on Wednesday April 7, along Igboora- Eruwa Road.
He stated that Salami is a student of Royal Institution of Health in Eruwa and a staff of Olugbon Hospital,Igboora.
Oladokun further said the kidnappers have established communication with members of Salami’s family, demanding N1.5 million ransom to secure her release.
He said: “Going by their accent when they spoke with the lady’s family, they are Fulani people but they are being very reserved in their communication as they are not letting go much of information.”
According to Oladokun, another attack that was carried out on a farm settlement in Oyankalu area, Lukosi, Ayete, Ibarapa North Local Government by the gunmen resulted in serious injuries for one Mr Kereku Yanmi, a 45-year-old farmer.
He said Yanmi is receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.
“As the Convener of Igangan Development Advocate, last year, one of the proposal we submitted to the Office of the Executive Assistant On Security Matters to our dear Governor, is the rehabilitation of Eruwa to Igboora road
“And as part of our own efforts at Ibarapa Development Forum, we contributed money and cleared the road, we did some repairs of the road but that was within our limited capacity.
“We believe that if the road is in good condition despite being a Federal Government road according to report, if the state can clear the road and make it an expressway, the kidnapping incidents will reduce.
“The report I also received is that the suspected Fulani bandits went to the Olukosi area, about six or seven of them and attacked the area but the people ran away.
“Unfortunately, they got one man who is a farmer, Mr Kereku Yanmi, they came with guns so they shot at him but I think he had all these African protective things on his body so, the gun didn’t enter his body.
“So, they used their sword, the sword did not enter so, they used their stick, it was their stick that was able to inflict injuries on him and he was taken to the hospital.
“They were on their way to the hospital, even Operation Burst security team already saw it, according to them they said they took some pictures.
“Right now, I’m trying to send one of my guys to the hospital to see if we can also take pictures of the man on his hospital bed,” Oladokun said.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of Oyo State Police Command, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, to confirm the report proved abortive as calls made to his phone numbers through.
