Deputy governor Bayo Lawal confirmed on Wednesday that two people died in a violent clash that tore through the Ojoo neighbourhood of Ibadan. The fighting started after a Yoruba tricycle mechanic was stabbed to death by a Hausa scrap collector.
Lawal visited the affected area and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the killings. He urged residents to stay calm and work with security agencies as the probe unfolds.
The deputy governor made it clear that Oyo State would not accept lawlessness. "Anyone found culpable in the killings will be prosecuted in accordance with the law," he assured the public.
Security forces have ramped up operations to restore peace in the neighbourhood. Angry youths responded to the violence by torching properties and confronting members of the Hausa community in the area.
Eyewitnesses said one suspect pulled a weapon from a sack of scrap materials before chasing down a group of people and fatally stabbing the tricycle mechanic during the overnight altercation. Police officers rushed to deploy in the area to prevent the tensions from spiralling into a wider ethnic conflict.
The Oyo State Police Command pledged to track down those responsible for the killing. The command urged the public to share useful information with investigators.
The unrest snarled traffic along the busy Iwo Road–Ojoo Motorway corridor. Numerous vehicles, including cars and trailers, got stuck in the gridlock that gripped the area.
