Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has said that the security agencies were informed of the imminent Igangan attack, over a week before the killings happened noting that the attack could have been prevented.
Falana in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday titled: ‘Halt the Brutal Killing of Unarmed People in Igangan’ pointed out that the security agencies have repeatedly failed to apprehend and prosecute the evildoers kidnapping, raping and killing innocent Nigerians.
He said: “We have been reliably informed that the security agencies in Oyo State have repeatedly failed to prosecute suspects arrested by the people of Igangan for kidnapping, rape and other heinous crimes.”
“From the information at our disposal, security agencies were alerted last week of the planned attack on the people of Igangan by a gang of bandits. But as no pre-emptive action was taken, the assailants struck and brutally killed about 20 people while properties worth hundreds of millions of naira were destroyed.”
“The members of the Amotekun security outfit who were armed with Dane guns were unable to repel the AK-47 bearing bandits.”
Falana also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to fix the situation as soon as possible and take urgent steps to stop the killing of innocent, unarmed Nigeria and the destruction of property.
The renowned activist subsequently urged Igangan youths to set up defence committees to boost the security of the town.
“For the umpteenth time, we are compelled to call on the Buhari administration to take urgent and decisive steps to halt the barbaric killing of unarmed people and the destruction of their properties. In particular, a team of mobile police personnel should be permanently stationed in Igangan.”
“However, since the Federal Government is overwhelmed by the worsening insecurity in the country, we call on the youths in the Igangan community to set up a defence committee to provide security for the people.
The defence committee should be trained by the police and then equipped with arms and ammunition as well as tracking devices,” he said.
