Kwara community denies influx of Boko Haram members

People of Agbeyangi community in Ilorin-East local government area of Kwara state have denied a media report that items belonging to some members of the Boko Haram sect were found in the community.

A statement in Ilorin by the Alangua of Agbeyangi community, Alhaji Aliyu Baba, made available to journalists on Sunday said that the report was far from the truth. As the purported items only belonged to some Fulani herdsmen from the North, and not Boko Haram members, who were awaiting screening before they could be allowed into the community.

A national daily had reported that some items like iron beddings, mattresses and household utensils belonging to some people were found in the community.

According to him, “it’s a tradition in the community that herdsmen migrating into the area are subjected to screening before they are allowed in.”

Baba noted that, police were aware of the development and were also involved in the screening exercise, because of the state of insecurity in the country.

If not Fulani herdsmen, then who?

The community head explained that stakeholders have met on the issue, where they ordered them packing and they had since complied with the order.

The statement urged media to always cross-check their facts before going to press to avoid anything that could cause anxiety in society.

He allayed the fear of anybody coming into the community, saying nothing of such development was going on in the community.