SAN FRANCISCO, January 09, (THEWILL) – Men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency popularly known as Operation Amotekun and some Fulani have reportedly engaged in a clash at Aiyete in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.
The cause of the clash which started at Okebi village on Saturday morning, could not be immediately ascertained at the time of filing this report.
A man, Saliu, who claimed to be a resident of the area, said that seven persons had been killed. He added that about seven houses were also razed.
Saliu said, “Alhaji Usman Okebi and his two sons were killed. We don’t know what caused the fight. Some persons were shot and injured.
“The number of people killed has increased to seven. Those who were shot and ran away later died in the bush.”
Another source said the clash was between the Amotekun corps and Bororo people. He said some persons were killed but could not say which suffered heavier casualties.
The Commandant of Amotekun in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd), when contacted said he was on his way to the place to ascertain what happened.
He said, “I heard the same thing and I am on my way there now.”
Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Saturday cautioned the South-West Security Network Agency, against being turned into another Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said the men of the Amotekun Corps must be trained on the issue of ethics so that they don’t become more brutal and ruthless than the officers of the defunct police unit.
Ondo and Oyo States have launched the security outfit endorsed by the governments of the six South-West states last year.
However, of late, there have been allegations of recklessness and extrajudicial killings against the security outfit, especially in Oyo State.
Soyinka said the minds of the Amotekun operatives must be trained to understand the essence of their job.
The Nobel Laureate, who spoke while featuring on an Arise TV programme said, “I have told them anytime you want us to come and assist, we will come even if it is just on the ethical session so that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that Amotekun does not become another SARS, very important. We must do everything together.”
Soyinka, who said some South-West states were tardy in inaugurating their Amotekun Corps, urged other states yet to launch their security outfits to do so quickly as the challenge of insecurity has reached a “stage of desperation”
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