Emotions were on full display on Tuesday in the House of Representatives over last weekend’s killing of over 20 people in Igangan, Oyo State, by bandits.
Angered by the unprovoked invasion and murder of innocent residents, the Southwest Caucus in the House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to stem the wave of killings in the region and across the country.
According to the Caucus, failure to halt the trend of attacks and killings could herald anarchy.
Recall that Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) had earlier said the tragedy could have been prevented by a concerted action by the security outfit, Amotekun.
His Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde said his administration will muster the strength to prevent a reoccurrence of violent attacks on Igangan and other communities in the state.
Lamenting the Igangan tragedy, Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised the Federal Government to seek assistance from the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) in tackling insecurity in the country.
Amid the tension, the Yoruba Welfare Group cautioned politicians to desist from instigating Yoruba against other ethnic groups.
Also, the coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) objected to the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader Aare Gani Adam’s remarks that the attack on Igangan was a declaration of war against the Southwest by the North.
The group said any attack on Northerners living in the South would not be acceptable.
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) urged President Muhammad Buhari to take urgent and decisive steps to halt the barbaric killings at Igangan.
Falana made the request in a statement titled: “Halt the Brutal killing of Unarmed People of Igangan.”
He urged the government to post a team of mobile police personnel permanently in Igangan.
He said this has become necessary in view of information stating that security agencies were alerted last week of the planned attack on the people of Igangan by a gang of bandits.
“But as no preemptive action was taken the assailants struck and brutally killed about 20 people while properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira were destroyed.
“The members of the Amotekun security outfit who were armed with dane guns were unable to repel the AK 47 bearing bandits.”
Southwest Caucus leader Olufemi Fakeye, in a motion, urged the Police Inspector General to arrest and prosecute the assailants to prevent reoccurrence.
“Due to this last attack, residents of igangan Town and lbarapa axis of Oyo State, are relocating from the town or area in droves, which is likely to paralyse the economic and social activities of the town or area and has indeed paralysed them”.
Rep. Rotimi Agunsoye (Kosofe Constituency) said the government has failed in its responsibility to protect Nigerians, saying “what are we doing in government. It is high time something is done to stem the tide”.
He said: “We find it outrageous for Adams to so readily attribute the attacks to the North whereas the actual attackers have not yet been officially identified.
“For Adams to just jump to such a conclusion that the attacks were carried out by the North and even call it a declaration of war speaks volumes of the mindset of the typical southerner against the entire northern region.”
