Men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency better known as Amotekun and some gunmen clashed in Aiyete, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state on Saturday.
According to eyewitness account, trouble started after some Amotekun corps responded to a distress call from some villagers over activities of suspected herdsmen.
one Usman Okebi, an indigene of Okebi village, and his two sons were said to have been killed in the clash while some of the gunmen who sustained injuries fled into the bush.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi,
said policemen had been drafted to the area to restore peace.
When the outfit was inaugurated on November 18, 2020, Governor Seyi, said he should be held responsible for the actions of the corps.
Allegations of high-handedness and extrajudicial killings have been levelled against the corps in recent times.
Commenting on this when he featured on an ARISE TV programme earlier on Saturday, Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, said Amotekun, must not transform into another form of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
However, has
The Amotekun Commandant, has said Saturday’s raid was in response to the incessant reports of killings and kidnapping in the area.
The commandant of the local police, Olayinka Olayanju, who spoke at a press conference in Ibadan on Sunday, said his operatives went on a raid in four local government areas when the incident happened.
He also confirmed that the Amotekun operatives killed three people in the process.
According to him, suspected terrorists attacked the Amotekun team in the forest and three people were killed by the corps.
“What happened was that we launched clearance operations in different locations around the thick forests of the four local governments that have suffered kidnapping and wanton killings in recent times.”
“When our men entered the forests at Aiyede, they were attacked and a gun battle ensued, which led to the death of three of the attackers. One of our men sustained injuries.”
“The incessant kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives necessitated the planning of a clearance operation in Lanlate, Igbo Ora, Igangan, Iganna and Aiyegun general areas in Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North as well as Iwajowa Local Government Areas.”
“There were six teams in all comprising members of Amotekun, vigilantes, hunters and Miyetti Allah Vigilante.
“All the six teams had elements of these groups (joint team). However, at Igbo Ora, one of the teams had an encounter with two armed men, effected their arrest and recovered one double barrel rifle.
“All suspects and weapons were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO Magoro Police Station, Igbo Ora at about 9 am on Saturday.
“In a related development, another team was attacked at about 9.30am in Igangan forest, Ibarapa North, while on the clearance operations at a settlement. The attack was repelled, resulting in serious injury to one member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and three other suspects. Two dane guns were recovered at the scene.
“In Iwajowa LGA, one of the teams also arrested a kidnap kingpin operating around Aiyegun axis. He was arrested with a locally made pistol and cartridges. The operation was suspended at about 12 noon on Saturday to allow for further stock-taking,” the statement read.
