A bloody clash between some Hausa and
Yoruba in Ibese, Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State on Wednesday
claimed the lives of three persons and left no fewer than 30 vehicles
burnt.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene
of the crisis on Thursday, learnt that the violent clash between the
members of the two ethnic groups began on Wednesday night following a
disagreement between two unidentified men over a commercial sex worker.
The violence was said to have later escalated and became an inter-tribal crisis.
About 25 articulated vehicles, three
cars and five motorcycles were said to have been destroyed in the
violence. Also, almost all the shops in the nearby market were
reportedly looted.
Residents of the busy town were said to have fled the community.
Armed policemen were deployed in the
troubled town to forestall further break down of law and order while an
Armoured Personnel Carrier was seen stationed in front of the Dangote
Cement Factory located within the community.
The Chairman of the task force in the
affected market, Sikirulah Akinsola, confirmed to newsmen that the
violence erupted due to a disagreement between two persons over a
commercial sex worker.
Akinsola, who also doubles as the Bada
Orile of Ijako Village, a suburb of the town, said more than 200 persons
of Yoruba extraction who felt aggrieved by the alleged killing of their
kinsman had decided to demonstrate on the streets when the crisis
erupted.
According to him, one Kehinde had also allegedly been killed last May by a suspected Hausa man in the town.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident, but said no one was killed.
Adejobi, an assistant superintendent of police however said the violence in the town had nothing to do with ethnicity.
He said, “It was caused by a prostitute
and some of the drivers had a problem with some men who claimed to be
Ibese indigenes. There was no ethnic colouration. There was no casualty
and only 14 vehicles were burnt.”
Credit: The Punch
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