Share
Gbeminiyi Ogunleye
2 hours ago
Overview
Yoruba And Hausa Residents Clash In Ibadan, Two Dead (Video) «
Tension In Ibadan, As Clash Between Yoruba, Hausa Residents Leaves Tricycle Operator, Passerby Dead
Tension has continued to escalate around the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, following a violent clash between Yoruba traders and Hausa scavengers that reportedly left a commercial tricycle (Maruwa) operator dead and a young boy, who was said to be on his way to buy Indomie noodles, fatally struck by a stray bullet.
The violence, which stirred fear across the commercial district, also forced traders to shut down businesses as gunshots rang out in several parts of the area.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident began on Tuesday night at about 11pm when a commercial tricycle operator reportedly went to withdraw money from a Point of Sale (POS) operator in the area.
According to eyewitnesses, an argument broke out after the transaction allegedly failed to reflect despite the POS operator claiming that cash had already been handed over to the tricycle rider.
The rider reportedly left his tricycle key and mobile phone with the POS operator as security, assuring those present that he would not flee while the transaction issue was being resolved.
However, within minutes, a group of suspected Hausa scavengers stormed the scene and attacked the tricycle operator.
The victim was reportedly stabbed repeatedly until he died from his injuries.
The killing triggered outrage among residents and traders, with the violence escalating into armed confrontations on Wednesday morning.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, one of the Yoruba traders, who said he narrowly escaped death after being shot by suspected Hausa scavengers, narrated how the violence unfolded.
He said, "What happened in Ojoo started since yesterday night at about 11 p.m. A Maruwa (tricycle) operator went to withdraw money from a POS. However, they said the money had not reflected, but they claimed they had already given the money to him.
"Meanwhile, the Maruwa operator gave the POS vendor his tricycle key together with his phone so that they would know he could not run away.
"But in less than five minutes, they rushed to the place. They started attacking the young man, stabbing him repeatedly until he died. The young man has been dead since last night. The trouble started from last night and escalated," he said.
He continued, "This morning, before we arrived here from Central and Cabling, when we got here, the boys picked up guns and started shooting at us. A little boy who had gone to buy Indomie was hit by a bullet, and the child is now dead.
"Right now, the whole area is under gunfire. Bullets are flying everywhere. This is not a joke; bullets are everywhere. If it hadn't been for God's protection, wouldn't I have died this morning? They even fired at me. They wanted to shoot me.
"Imagine. The police officers were there, but they just stood by watching with their arms folded. They didn't do anything to protect us."
The eyewitness stated that security personnel present at the scene failed to intervene despite the exchange of gunfire and attacks, accusing the police of watching helplessly while residents came under attack.
As the violence intensified, panic spread across Ojoo, one of Ibadan's busiest commercial hubs, with traders and residents fleeing for safety while businesses were forced to close.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Deputy Governor visited the area in an effort to calm tensions and prevent further violence.
During the visit, Yoruba traders and community representatives urged the state government to evacuate the Hausa scavengers from Ojoo, insisting that they no longer felt safe living alongside them.
One of the Yoruba representatives told the Deputy Governor, "We don't want them to come and kill us at night while we are sleeping. We don't want them living in our community. Tell them to leave. Ojoo is a commercial hub."
