The Sarkin Fulani, Alhaji Salihu Kadiri, has gone into hiding after angry youths on Friday stormed attacked Fulani communities in Iganga, Ibarapa North of Oyo State as the seven-day ultimatum given to them elapsed.
Reports said a woman and two children were killed in the incident.
According to Daily Trust report, security operatives were earlier stationed around the Fulani communities, but they were overpowered by the youths who invaded the settlements and burnt houses and cars.
Kadiri said that his palace and many houses were razed. He added that he is “hiding somewhere in the bush”.
He said,
“We fled for our lives when we learnt that they were coming. They burnt my cars and those of my children.
“They also killed an old woman, who I learnt may be my first wife. As at now, I cannot give you the details of the people we lost to this attack because we are still hiding,’’ he said.
Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Jiji described the incident as unfortunate, urging the government to find lasting solutions to Fulani-farmers unrest in the state.
Reports claimed the youths who perpetrated the mayhem were led by popular traditional security coordinator, who recently turned freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho.
However, an aide Igboho said the incident must have happened after his master had left Igangan.
He said that Igboho was there not to fight but to appeal to both sides and assure Yoruba residents that there won’t be a problem.
Speaking to the Hausa Service of the BBC, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest Igboho.
Also, Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday asked the commissioner of police to arrest Igboho who gave the Fulani an ultimatum to leave the South-West.
He said his government would not allow anyone hiding under the guise of protecting Yoruba interest to cause ethnic tension and perpetuate crisis in the state.
Makinde’s directive is coming on the heels of renewed threats by Igboho that the Fulani must leave the entire Yoruba land over their alleged involvement in kidnappings and other criminal activities.
He maintained that the type of war the state and security agencies needed to wage is not against any particular ethnic group but criminal elements, irrespective of their tribes, religions or creed.
The governor added that his administration would not allow anyone to threaten the peace of the state by acting unlawfully and saying things that are alien to the Nigerian constitution.
He noted that acts that are capable of causing chaos in the state would not be accepted.
“The people stoking ethnic tension are criminals, and once you get them, they should be arrested and prosecuted.
“For this administration, the major pillar for us is security because we know that all the good economic plans we have won’t be possible in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.
“So, when people say things that are neither lawful nor within the spirit of Nigeria’s constitution, it is not acceptable here.
“And they cannot hide under the guise of protecting Yoruba’s interest to perpetuate chaos in the state.
“I am sure that since you came in, you must have heard about some things happening in the Ibarapa axis of the state.
“I will still say it here that we are not after Hausa-Fulani. We are after criminals,” the governor said.
