Suspected herdsmen have killed the head of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Saki, Oyo state, after a failed attempt to apprehend some herdsmen accused of instigating a disturbance of public peace in the state.
According to The Nation, the unnamed officer who was on the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was macheted to death during an operation in a forest around Saki-Ogboro Road in Oke Ogun.
The slain officer was said to have led a team of police officers and SARS operatives to arrest suspected Fulani herdsmen on the ground of disturbing public peace a day earlier, but the men were ambushed by another gang of herdsmen during another attempt to arrest two other suspects.
Residents of Saki and its environs were said to have been thrown into fear, with many fearing for their safety.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations, Adekunle Ajisebutu, was said to have confirmed the slaying of the officer, adding that four suspects had been nabbed in connection with the incident.
The incident occurred after a stakeholders meeting was held in the Eleyele Headquarters of the State Police Command by the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, to address clashes between local farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the state.