Oyo confirms two dead after Hausa-Yoruba clash, orders probe

Bayo Lawal, the Oyo State deputy governor, on Wednesday confirmed that two people died during the clash that erupted in the Ojoo area of Ibadan.

A fight erupted after a Yoruba tricycle mechanic was allegedly stabbed to death by a Hausa scrap collector.

While ordering a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings, the deputy who visited the affected area appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations into the incident continue.

He assured the public that the state government would not tolerate lawlessness, stressing that anyone found culpable in the killings would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

According to him, two people lost their lives during the clash, but security agencies have intensified efforts to restore normalcy and maintain peace in the area.

Meanwhile, the incident reportedly sparked outrage among residents, with angry youths setting some properties ablaze and confronting members of the Hausa community in the area.

It was gathered that the victim, a Yoruba tricycle mechanic, was allegedly stabbed to death overnight during an altercation involving suspected Hausa scrap collectors.

Eye witnesses claimed that one of the suspects allegedly pulled a weapon from a sack containing collected scrap materials before chasing a group of people and fatally stabbing the mechanic.

However, security personnel, including police officers, were deployed to the area to prevent the situation from escalating into a wider ethnic conflict.

The Oyo State Police Command reassured residents that they are working diligently to apprehend those responsible for the killing and encouraged members of the public to assist investigators by providing any useful information.

While the unrest disrupted traffic along the busy Iwo Road–Ojoo Motorway, a good number of vehicles, including cars and trailers, were stranded, resulting in heavy congestion in the area.