- Safiu Kehinde
Residents of Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo state, have demanded the relocation of the Hausas from their community as they alleged stockpiling of firearms by them.
The allegation is coming under the heels of the violent clash which erupted between the Hausas and the Yoruba residents in the early hours of Wednesday.
Sources and some of the eyewitnesses disclosed that the clashed ensued hours after the murder of a Yoruba tricycle, popularly called Marwa, operator on Tuesday night.
One of the residents present at the scene of the clash recounted how the Marwa operator was allegedly stabbed to death by a Hausa man at a POS stand in the area.
“A Marwa rider went to collect money from POS operator.
“The POS operator claimed that the transaction failed and Marwa rider said he has use the money.
“He dropped the key of his Marwa and his phone with the operator, assuring him that he would not run away.
“It wasn’t up to five minutes, the assailants came and stabbed the Marwa rider to death last night.” The resident said.
He thereafter recounted how the incident escalated on Wednesday morning after a group of residents visited the Hausa community to settle the matter.
He alleged that the Hausa squatters pulled out firearms and shot at them, leading to the clash which claimed the lives of two people.
“We got here this morning to settle the matter amicably, on getting here, the boys brought out guns and started shooting us.
“A young boy that went to buy Indomie was caught in the crossfire and he is dead now.” The eyewitness said.
He also alleged that one of the police officers deployed to the scene authorised the armed Hausas to open fire at them.
“The police officer that came authorised them to be shooting us.” He said.
Meanwhile, upon the arrival of the Deputy Governor of the state, Bayo Lawal, the youth leader of the community, Azeez Olamiposi, demanded the immediate evacuation of the Hausas from the community, alleging stockpiling of firearms in their makeshift settlements.
“We don’t want them here again. Take them to the outskirt of Ibadan. We don’t want them in the city again. This is Ojoo commercial hub. Relocate them.” One of the Ojoo youths heard in a video shared on Instagram told the deputy governor.
Some of the residents alleged that the scavengers among the Hausas had stockpiled firearms in their settlement located around the hills in the community.
A video recorded by Agidigbo FM also showed some of the Hausas watching the aggrieved youths and other residents who pointed towards their direction.