Tension is high in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria as an ethnic conflict has taken at least one life and caused injuries to many others.
Ongoing clashes between Hausa and Yoruba traders and locals have seen residents fleeing their homes over fears of retaliatory attacks.
Despite the presence of the Police, Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) and the military, the fights have hardly stalled.
Shops, kiosks, and vehicles have been razed as the degree of arson witnessed keeps getting more serious.
Many innocent traders have lost their source of livelihood in the clashes caused by a Nigerien living in the Hausa community in Sasha, Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State.
News Central gathered from the residents of the area that the clashes were caused by the killing of a man on Thursday. According to an eyewitness, Ayomikun Kehinde, violence erupted when the Nigerien man in question hit a local shoemaker and he fell and was foaming from his mouth. The man who was hit, a local cobbler named Sakirudeen Adeola died later on Thursday at the hospital.
A vehicle stacked with tomatoes had upturned in front of the shop of a pregnant woman and after a cleanup by the driver, he reportedly left rotten tomatoes in front of the woman’s shop. She complained afterwards and that led to an argument which involved Adeola, the deceased cobbler.
Angered by the death of their son, Adeola’s family and friends retaliated his death and a series of attacks from both ethnic groups have led to the burning of shops, vehicles and destruction of houses.
Fire service providers came to the scene of the arson to put out the fire but their vehicles were attacked by locals and they were prevented from operating.
Police and military officials have been seen patrolling the area during the day.
Markets and areas where Yorubas and Hausas have been coexisting for years have now been deserted as dwellers have hidden in safety.
The Oyo State Police Command described the clash as one between two “social miscreants.”
“It was a clash between two social miscreants in which one of the miscreant, Adeola Sakirundeen, was hit by the other and died later while receiving treatment in a hospital,” Olugbenga Fadeyi, Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command said.
Massive police deployment and that of the sister security agencies were made to dowse tension. Critical stakeholders have also been consulted to appeal to the people. Calm is gradually returning to the area.
The state government has imposed a curfew on the market where the clashes are ongoing, while it warned that anyone caught disturbing the peace of the community will face the full wrath of the law.
Taiwo Adisa, the Chief press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor remarked that the Governor Seyi Makinde has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area,” , Seyi Makinde said.
“The governor has also approved the imposition of (a) curfew in Shasha from 6pm to 7am. Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.
