Yoruba Community Gives Hausa Scavengers Seven Days To Leave Ibadan’s Ojoo After D£adly C!ash

Yoruba Community Gives Hausa Scavengers Seven Days To Leave Ibadan’s Ojoo After Deadly Clash

The violence, which stirred fear across the commercial district, also forced traders to shut down their businesses as gunshots rang out in several parts of the area.

The Yoruba community in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, says Hausa scavengers have been given seven days to leave the community following the violent clash that left at least two people dead and heightened tension across the area.

Speaking after a meeting with government officials, the leader of the Yoruba community in Ojoo, Folagbade Azeez, said residents had been assured by the Oyo State government that the scavengers would vacate the area within one week.

“They called us and when we got there we saw things happening and how they were shooting guns, even the chairman of our local government can confirm and it’s those scavengers, we are not safe,” Azeez said.

“If something like that is happening and they start shooting… One of the bullets is with our chairman. We do not want them there because we are not safe.

“We have been assured that they would leave the area, we want peace and we do not want problems. We thank the deputy governor for the assurance. They have said they would be made to leave the area in seven days.”

On Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that tension continued to escalate around the Ojoo area 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 noodles, fatally struck by a stray bullet.

The violence, which stirred fear across the commercial district, also forced traders to shut down their businesses as gunshots rang out in several parts of the area.

SaharaReporters gathered that the crisis began on Tuesday night at about 11 p.m. when a commercial tricycle operator reportedly went to withdraw money from a Point of Sale (POS) operator.

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 allegedly 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 at by suspected Hausa scavengers, narrated how the violence unfolded.

He said, “What happened in Ojoo started since last (Tuesday) night, at about 11 p.m… A Maruwa (tricycle) operator went to withdraw money from a POS (operator). 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 added.

The Oyo State Government later on Wednesday confirmed that four people were killed and several others injured during the clash.

The government also assured residents that those responsible for the violence would be arrested and prosecuted.