Makinde visits families of those killed in Igangan attacks

Three days after gunmen killed scores of people during an overnight attack in Igangan, a rural community in Ibarapa area of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, the state governor, visited the town on Tuesday, where he sympathised with the families of victims of the attack.

The visit came after opposition of his government and youths in Ibarapa land berated the governor for not taking enough actions to match his words on the killings.

They also accused him of delaying his visits in the past when similar attacks happened in the area.

Some of the youth leaders said Makinde chose to attend other functions in Ibadan instead of going to the town to offer comfort and government assurance to the families and entire people of Igangan soon after the attack.

However, during Tuesday’s visit, the governor said the state will do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of violent attacks on Igangan and other communities in the state.

While proferring one of the ways to stop a recurrence of the attack in the area and in the entire state, the governor said his government will empower local security guards and vigilantes in addition to other measures already taken.

Makinde said the government has been able to identify areas where there are lapses, calling on the people to give his government the opportunity to address the situation.

He said: “I have told your chairman that all the vigilantes and security guards, the government will be responsible for them. This is your government, please give me the opportunity to do the needful so that a meeting like this would not come up again.

“I urge you to give me that chance to make the issue of insecurity here become a thing of the past. Don’t take laws into your hands. We have identified where there are hitches. We are supposed to be going to our farms by now because of the favourable weather. But hold me accountable, I have nowhere to go.

“I believe there are some certain things we put in place, which we think would work but unfortunately, they did not work. Please, give me some time, everything will be resolved.

“I promise you, this is the last time anything like this will ever happen here. It is a promise I am making to you, and it is a promise I will come through with.”