Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday said it has deployed tactical teams to Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State after suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly attacked a village in the town.
It was gathered that a farmer simply identified as Kola was tied to a tree at the village called Oke Orogun before he was attacked with a cutlass.
The incident reportedly happened in the early hours of Sunday. While some residents claimed the farmer had died, others said that Kola was still alive as at Monday, but his condition very critical.
The news of the attack was said to have angered some youths in Saki, who invaded a Fulani settlement and set some of the huts on fire.
Residents of the settlements were said to have fled on sighting the angry youths coming towards their huts.
It was gathered that the killing of the farmer and the attack on the Fulani settlement had led to panic among the people of the town.
“I don’t know the real cause of the problem and who was behind the attack. There have been conflicting reports from people who claimed to have gone there. But it is true that some persons suspected to be Bororo herdsmen tied one man, Kola, to a tree in the village and attacked him with cutlass.
“Although the man did not die there as at the time he was rescued, his condition is very critical. He was taken to hospital where he was being tested but I have not heard any latest development from him today,” a source told The Punch.
Speaking, the Coordinator of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC) in Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Olumo, confirmed the incident.
He said: “One person was said to have been killed on Sunday by herdsmen and somebody was killed before that time.”
However, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, said the incident was a case of robbery.
He said, “Yes, it was a robbery incident which happened on March 12, 2021 where one Sukurupu (male) was killed. Irate youths in the area mobilized for a reprisal attack.
“The Area Commander, Saki, called a stakeholders meeting to broker peace. The area is relatively peaceful as aggrieved parties have agreed to term. Police tactical teams are on ground to curtail untoward situation.”
