The Osun State Police Commissioner says the killing of six people at a Fulani settlement at Wasinmi village along Ife-Ibadan express way is not connected to farmers/herders clashes.
Voice of Nigeria gathered that those killed on Sunday evening were members of the same family.
A statement released by the state Police PRO, Yemisi Opalola categorically stated that, “the unfortunate attack on a family at a settlement in the outskirts of Wasinmi Village, Ikire, Osun State, today 14th March, 2021, is not connected with any clash between farmers and herders as speculated in some sections of the media.
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Olawale Olokode, psc, who visited the scene of the incident for an ‘on-the-spot security assessment’, noted that the Command has commenced discrete investigations into the incident and already carrying out intensive manhunt for the perpetrators to bring them to justice.
“The CP notes that preliminary investigations by the Police revealed that some yet to be identified gunmen, stormed, attacked and shot sporadically at a family of six at a settlement in the outskirts of Wasinmi Village, Ikire, Osun State, leaving one person injured. Police Operatives from Ikire Division and other law enforcement agencies were promptly drafted to the scene to prevent further attacks on residents in the area and arrest the perpetrators but the attackers escaped on sighting the security team”, the statement said.
The Commissioner thereby appealed to the people not to panic but collaborate with the Police by giving timely information that will assist in arresting the culprits.
He reassured them of the commitment of the police to their safety, as adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrences of such incident.
Police advise on verification
Olokode however enjoined reporters to verify their information before making it public in order to avoid disinformation that could trigger unnecessary crises capable of disrupting the existing peace being enjoyed in the State.
How they were killed
Yahaya Samu, a child of the head of the slained family, who overheard the discussion in his hideout during the attack reported that the assailants killed his father, the two wives, and three grandchildren when the father, Mr Samu, could not give them money as requested.
According to Yahaya, the assailants arrived and called out the head of the family from a mosque, where he was praying, and asked him to kneel beside his two wives and three grandchildren, then asked for money before killing the victims.
Yahaya Samu, who spoke to journalists at the scene of the incident said the attackers came on two motorcycles and got to the settlement around 10.00pm.
According to him, there are many households in the settlement, but wondered why the family was the target of the assailants.
Yahaya who said two of the grandchildren killed wee his children, said the victims were shot at close range, while he watched from his hiding place when the killing was happening.
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