By Ismaeel Uthman
What would have been a disaster that could
claim lives of residents of Ibokun, the
Headquarters of Obokun Local Government of the State of Osun was averted, following an attack on soldiers from the Sobi Barrack, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The soldiers were said to be coming from training at the Sobi Barrack, en-route Ilahun and Ibokun to Ede Barrack in Osun in a two-vehicle convoy on Sunday, January 19, 2020.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that a man who rode a motorcycle at Ilahun attempted to overtake the soldiers’ convoy but was warned not to do such.
According to sources, the unknown man made attempt to overtake the convoy for the second time and was sprayed with water by the soldiers.
The stubborn man did not know that the occupants of the convoy were soldiers as they were not in uniform and were unarmed, said the sources.
It was gathered that the man who is not an okada rider called his friend in Ibokun and lied that the soldiers’ convoy had killed somebody in Ilahun and was attempting to run away.
The call receiver in Ibokun alerted residents of the community and they immediately mounted roadblock at Ifosan area of the community.
According to the sources, while the soldiers alighted from the vehicles to explain that they were soldiers and needed pass, they were suddenly attacked by their assailants who were allegedly armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that some of the soldiers sustained deep machete cuts on their heads, shoulders and ribs.
It took the quick intervention of the police, led by the Obokun Area Commander, Mr Akingbade Adeyinka, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, to save the lives of the soldiers who were overpowered by their assailants, it was learnt.
The reports of the attack on the soldiers went to both Sobi and Ede barracks and some soldiers were reportedly sent to Ibokun for a reprisal attack the following day.
But the soldiers could not carry out any attack as they were calmed by the policemen and community leaders in the town.
OSUN DEFENDER also gathered that one of the indigenes of Ibokun, a Colonel in the Nigeria Army, intervened and helped to settle the matter.
But the matter was not settled without arrest of some residents of community, most especially the commercial motorcyclists known as okada riders.
About 40 people, according to sources, were arrested by the police.
Findings revealed that the prime suspect who called from Ilahun and the receiver at Ibokun had fled the communities and were yet to be arrested as at the time of filing this report.
Speaking with the medium, the Obaloro of Ijesaland, High Chief Olasehinde Fadeyibi dismissed the claim that the soldiers had attacked the man on motorcycle at Ilahun, resulting to their ambush in Ibokun.
According to Fadeyibi, the soldiers suffered unprovoked attack ignited by false information by the Ilahun man and the unreasonable call receiver at Ibokun.
Fadeyibi commended the leaders of the Nigerian Army in both Sobi and Ede Barracks for their discipline and sense of reasoning, stating that Ibokun would have been set on fire but for the grace of God and the peaceful role of the police led by ACP Adeyinka.
He warned residents of the community to always be careful, exercise patience and verify any information they received from another person before acting on it.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Folasade Odoro confirmed the attack on the soldiers.
