The Dr Fredrick Faseun faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Ondo State has directed its members to form themselves into vigilante groups in their respective zones to prevent attacks by herdsmen.
Speaking at a meeting held at Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, the leader of the Faseun’s faction, Mr. Victor Egbeyemi, expressed worry over the attacks by herdsmen.
He said, “We should not wait until they start to kill our people before we plan to defend them. We want to reorganise ourselves to defend the interest of Yoruba people. Both the Aare Adams and Dr. Faseun’s factions must work together in the interest of the people.
“OPC members should get prepared whether there is war or not. The Fulani kidnapped people in Ore; they attacked the wife of our member in Akure North, and people are fleeing their farms because of the activities of the herdsmen. Chief Olu Falae’s farm was burnt; we should rise up to defend our territories.”
He however advised members not to take the law into their own hands but work with the law enforcement agencies to protect the state against invaders.
In another development, two out of the four mobile policemen that were declared missing after an attack by a suspected Fulani militia group were rescued on Sunday.
The policemen had been declared missing by the Benue State Police Command.
The militia group reportedly attacked a joint army, police and civil defence security team in Tse Akpan near Azege Tombo Council ward in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday night.
The state police command on Sunday confirmed that two of the missing security operatives had been rescued while the command was still searching for the other two.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the rescue of the two officers, disclosed that they were rescued after a gun duel with the attackers.
The command spokesman, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed that the attack occurred in the Logo Local Government Area of the state.