The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Oyo State, Alhaji Ibrahim Jiji, has raised alarm over a recent fatal attack on the lives and property of some Fulani people in Gbepakan village, located in the Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Alhaji Jiji appealed to the federal and Oyo State governments, as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to intervene in the situation to ensure that the culprits are apprehended and prosecuted.
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Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Bayo Lawal, in a statement, assured the public that the perpetrators of the attack would be brought to justice, noting that investigations are ongoing.
The State Commissioner of Police has already visited the scene to assess the situation.
The Deputy Governor, during an on-the-spot assessment visit to the village last Thursday, pledged that the state government would not relent in its efforts to secure the lives and property of people in the state.
The MACBAN chairman reported that the attack, which occurred on Tuesday night, August 26, 2024, claimed the lives of 11 people and left many others injured.
He added that the injured are currently receiving treatment at the Baptist Hospital in Saki.
Alhaji Jiji also mentioned that the Fulani community had been warned weeks before the attack to vacate the village or face dire consequences.
He urged the IGP to investigate individuals in the area who may be connected to the incident.
However, the Oyo MACBAN chairman emphasized that his association would seek justice through lawful means and would not resort to taking the law into their own hands.
Additionally, a human rights lawyer, Barrister Mashood Agboola Yussuf, who serves as legal counsel to the association, described the attack on the Fulani community as gruesome and barbaric.
He added that a petition would be submitted to the IGP regarding the matter.
The counsel also expressed concerns about the safety of people within the village and called for urgent action to address the situation.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE