On Monday, news broke that some suspected herdsmen have invaded a community in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
The news raised apprehension from residents of the state over the fear of the unknown.
Staff Reporter, Adedayo Adelowo trails the event to unravel the truth on the matter.
The news filtered around Monday afternoon alleging that about three hundred herdsmen had invaded Maje area of Ibadan, Oyo state.
And indeed, in line with the claim in the news report, residents of the area were apprehensive.
Radio Nigeria visited the spot where the luxury bus which conveyed the northern youths allegedly parked and spoke with some residents.
They explained that they were shocked to see a number of northern youths who arrived in a luxury bus to the area on Monday, explaining that they predominantly spoke Hausa language.
The respondents who did not want their names mentioned said upon queries, the northern youths claimed to be students of Lead City University Ibadan.
While giving account of how they arrived, the respondents however worry on why there was no female among them if indeed they were students.
On his account, a community leader, Chief Oladokun said the youths who he described as Fulanis arrived around nine in the morning on Monday in the luxury bus with the claim that they were students of Lead City University.
He said their presence stirred suspicion and left residents panicking , stating that the northern youths were ushered to Sanyo police station and subsequently lead city university where they confirmed them to be students of the institution.
Chief Oladokun said he had earlier gathered that youths were from different northern states while some were said to have come from Niger Republic and Mali.
To ascertain the claim, Radio Nigeria visited Lead City University Ibadan .
Director of Public Communication and Students services of the university, Dr. Ayobami Owolabi disclosed that the youths are students of the university.
Dr.Owolabi said that the forty-five northern youths who arrived in a luxury bus, as opposed to three busses reported by a section of the media were beneficiaries of scholarship scheme under Wamako foundation.
The Director of Communication said the students came in from Sokoto state to lodge at a designated accomodation in Soka area, noting that their presence was strange to the residents who raised the alarm.
Mr. Owolabi said the university had conducted a background check on the students and considered its gesture of admitting the students as part of its social responsibility to helping the north to develop.
On whether there are none Nigerians among the people as claimed by a community leader, Mr. Owolabi said community leader would be in the best position to answer that.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police through the police public relations officer in Oyo State, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi had allayed fear that the suspected youths were just in Ibadan to study.
Adedayo Adelowo
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