16th August, 2021
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has sent a powerful delegation to the Fulani community in Ikare and Ikarimu over the killing of some travellers by militiamen in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The delegation was led by Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
Other members of the delegation include Amotekun commander in Ondo, Adetunji Adeleye, SSA to Governor on security matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo and SSA to Governor on youths and students affairs, Muyiwa Ogunyemi.
They are currently meeting with the Fulani leaders and relatives of the victims at Ikaramu town hall.
The victims who were mostly Fulani from Ondo State had attended a pre-Maulud Nabbiyi event in Bauchi and were travelling in a convoy of five 18-seater coaster buses, when they were attacked.
The death toll has reached 28, 11 are in critical conditions, while 33 have been discharged, while some are still missing as of the time of filing this report.
Police authorities have described the perpetrators as “suspected Irigwe militia.”
Earlier, Akeredolu’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, had said the attack was “a case of mistaken identity”.
The victims, according to preliminary reports, took a route where crisis between Muslims and Northern Christians had ensued for some time, and that they may have been mistaken for aggressors.
Accordingly, either of the two feuding groups in the area could be responsible in this regard.
The governor assured indigenes of Ondo living outside the state of his commitment to their safety.
Details later…