Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde says Customs operatives who stormed the troubled Ibarapa area of the state were attacked because they failed to notify local authorities before invading the area.

The governor therefore insisted security agencies must inform states before carrying out any form of operation in their domain.

Mr Makinde who spoke against the backdrop of a recent Customs raid that led to the loss of lives and properties in Igangan community, said the casualties suffered would have been prevented if the state was pre-informed.

“In the Constitution of Nigeria, Oyo State is a federating unit. We are not saying federal agencies should not carry out their operations here. But they must tell us; they must inform us. They may not disclose the details of the operation to us, but we must know about it,” Mr Makinde said.

“If we had known about the operation, we would have pre-informed the security detail in the town and those who died could have been alive. The Amotekun coordinator that died in Igboora would have still been alive today,” he added.

The governor explained that the Customs officers were attacked because they didn’t operate in their official vehicle.

“How can you go operating in an unidentified vehicle in a town where the security tactics have been heightened? As they wanted to enter the town, they were confronted because we have heightened security in all of those places,” the governor said.

He further disclosed that the state will retain possession of the arms seized from the security officials until the federal government responds to the issue.

Gunmen who later identified themselves as officers of the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday night raided Igangan and other parts of Ibarapa areas of the state.

At the time, reports were rife that they were Fulani herdsmen who have been terrorising the area for some time.

Mr Makinde however confirmed they are not herdsmen but Customs officers who entered the tensed area without prior notice.