Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State , the Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , and traditional rulers in the state will visit Igangan , Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state today to deliberate on how to restore peace to Ibarapaland .
The Deputy Chairman , Oyo State Council of Obas , Oba Francis Alao , who said this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday, said the meeting was organised primarily to ensure that peace returned to the area .
Violence had erupted in Igangan , Ibarapa , on Friday when a popular Yoruba freedom fighter , Sunday Adeyemo , well known as Sunday Igboho , alongside his followers , stormed the Fulani settlement in the ancient town to eject Seriki Fulani , Salihu Abdukadir , and herdsmen accused of perpetrating crimes ranging from kidnappings , killings , rape to invasion of farmlands with their cattle .
The monarch said a team of the state government would represent the governor while a team from the office of the IGP would stand in for Adamu , noting that the Commissioner of Police in the state , Ngozi Onadeko, would be present at the meeting.
He said , “I am going there tomorrow ( today ) to hold a meeting with all the traditional rulers in Ibarapaland . The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State too will be there. A team from the Inspector – General of Police Office is also going to be there. The state government ( representatives ) will also be there.
“ All we want to do is to ensure there is peace in the area for everybody to coexist peacefully . I am going in my position as the Deputy Chairman , Oyo State Obas Council ; I am going on that premise and we have told all traditional rulers from the three local government areas in Ibarapaland to be there as well.
“ There is an ongoing reconciliatory effort at Tede , Ago Are and Ago Amodu in Atisbo Local Government Area . I am coordinating that and everybody should sue for peace . Everybody should eschew violence and embrace peace while the security agents will do their investigation . ”
The Asigangan of Igangan , Oba Lasisi Adeoye , also confirmed to our correspondent in Ibadan that he and traditional rulers from Ibarapaland would be part of the meeting ,
He said , “ All the Obas in Ibarapa will hold a meeting here in Igangan tomorrow ( today ) and the Olugbon will be here for the meeting . ”
Sources said the government delegation would visit the troubled spots to assess the extent of damage.
“ The delegation will also engage the youth to calm frayed nerves and ensure that peace is restored to the troubled areas , ” a source told Sunday PUNCH .
It is not clear as of press time who will lead the government team, but sources said Makinde had constituted a high – powered delegation among his senior officials to embark on the trip .
Sources added that a full report on the Ibarapa situation would be made public by the government and the police after the assessment tour.
