By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Eight months after the invasion of Igangan town in Ibarapaland by suspected herders and armed bandits, the Oyo State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to fulfill his promise to the victims of the ill-fated attack.
The appeal was contained in a motion brought to the House on Tuesday by Hon. Peter Ojedokun representing Ibarapa North/Central State Constituency.
Hon Ojedokun in the motion recalled that aside from the series of attacks experienced by Igangan last year, the town was invaded on the 5th of June, 2021 leaving many deaths and houses, shops, filling stations and vehicles including lorries loaded with goods razed completely.
The palace of the Asigangan of Iganganland was also burnt down in the wake of the attacks.
The House in the resolution appreciated Governor Makinde for his prompt intervention through the deployment of security agencies to the town, the free treatment giving to those injured in the attack as well as the presentation of cash to the families of the Amotekun Commander and four others killed in the attack.
The motion read in part ” The severity of the attack and the magnitude of the damage and destruction has no doubt brought untold hardship to the victims and their families and has negatively affected their businesses and means of livelihood hence the need for Governor Makinde to put measures in place to compile the list of victims of the attack and provide succor and assistance for them in line with his promise”
The House also urged the Oyo State Government to make credit and loan facilities available through the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Trade , Investment, Cooperatives and Industry to businessmen and women as well as other individuals who lost their goods and properties during the attack.
The lawmakers equally appealed to the Oyo State Government to work through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as well as Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters towards rebuilding the palace of the Asigangan burnt by the assailants.
The Oyo State House of Assembly called for all round security surveillance especially in areas already identified as flashpoints in Iganganland to nib any of such future attacks in the bud while also commending the Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) and other security Agencies for making the town and indeed the whole of Ibarapaland safe again.
