Following a violent encounter between two communities, which left at least one person dead in Ibadan, Oyo state, with Hausa scavengers being chased away by a Yoruba community group, tensions have escalated in Ojoo area of the City.
Tensions in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo state, have now heightened after a Yoruba community group reportedly gave Hausa scavengers a seven days to stop trespassing and hauling away their local resources.
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The ultimatum followed violent altercations between Yoruba and Hausa people, which led to multiple business shut down and panic among citizens. The security operatives were deployed to maintain peace as the violence continued to spread in parts of Ojoo–Iwo Road corridor.
But the report failed to name any people involved in the incident. Members of the community who object to the directive claim some scavengers are bringing insecurity and public disorder to the region and authorities should ensure the presence of the thieves in the region would aggravate the tension in the community.
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All persons affected will have to leave the community within that time, they said, but it is not yet clear if there’s any legal basis for the order. The ultimatum has not been backed by the local authorities or security agencies.
Investigations into the violence that erupted at the clash are continuing, police officials said, but the fighting reportedly started when there was a row between people from both ethnic groups before spreading into wider communal fighting.
The development has reignited fears surrounding ethnic relations and community safety in some areas of Southwest Nigeria.
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Those watching have suggested caution and called for the government to do more to hold the perpetrators of the violence accountable and make sure innocent citizens are not targeted.
