Security services were notified about the deaths in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, more than a week before the attack, Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said.
He also urged President Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to take immediate action to stop the slaughter of unarmed civilians and the destruction of property.
According to the police, at least 11 people were slain during the attack on Igangan last week, however neighbors believe up to 20 people were killed.
The assailants also torched vehicles and buildings including the Palace of the Asigangan of Igangan Town and a filling station.
Falana, in a statement on Tuesday titled, ‘Halt the Brutal Killing of Unarmed People in Igangan’, said the security agencies had repeatedly failed to prosecute those killing, raping and kidnapping innocent residents.
The statement reads in bits , “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.”
The senior advocate called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to take urgent steps to halt the killing of unarmed people and the destruction of properties.
He also called on youths in the community to set up a defence committee to provide security for the people.
“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.”
