‘A woman was burnt to death’ — police detain OPC members after arrest of Fulani leader

The Oyo police command has accused members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) who were involved in the arrest of Iskilu Wakili, a Fulani leader in the Ibarapa area of the state, of murder.

Gbenga Fadeyi, the police spokesperson in the state, said a woman was burnt to death while the OPC members were attempting to arrest Wakili.

He also said Wakili has been moved to the hospital as a result of his “frail appearance and state of health”.

The Fulani leader was arrested in Ibarapa area of Oyo on Sunday after a gun fight with the OPC and other security groups.

He had been accused of various crimes in the state and had challenged Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to a duel after the latter asked herders to leave Ibarapa for allegedly contributing to insecurity in the area.

In a statement issued hours after the arrest, Fadeyi said the police was alerted to the invasion of Wakili’s house by the OPC around 9am on Sunday.

“While there, the house of the Wakili in question was set ablaze, while a female (the identity of who is yet to be ascertained) was burnt in the fire and Wakili (about 75 years old and blind) with two other persons were picked up,” the statement added.

“The three of them are presently in the custody of the Police. The Commissioner of Police has directed that Wakili (due to his frail appearance and state of health), be moved to the hospital while others are being interrogated. Others being interrogated are the OPC members, involved in arson and murder.”

Fadeyi added that anyone found to have committed any crime, especially regarding the matter, no matter their ethnic group “would not be spared” by the police.

“In conclusion, anybody that has any case against Iskilu Wakili should report it to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) Iyaganku Ibadan for discreet Investigation,” he said.