Tension gripped parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday as violence erupted between Hausa and Yoruba residents following the alleged killing of a Yoruba tricycle mechanic in the Ojoo neighborhood.
The unrest reportedly escalated across several zones in Ojoo, within the Akinyele Local Government Area, prompting a swift deployment of security personnel to prevent the clash from spiraling into wider ethnic violence.
Witnesses stated that the crisis began overnight when an altercation with Hausa scrap metal collectors ended with the fatal stabbing of the Yoruba mechanic.
Locals alleged that the suspects retrieved weapons from a sack of scavenged scrap metal before chasing down a group of individuals and fatally stabbing the mechanic, though officials have not independently verified these claims.
The killing triggered outrage among residents, leading angry youths to confront local Hausa inhabitants and set several buildings on fire.
Witnesses reported that many Northerners living in the community have gone into hiding as tensions escalate, while aggrieved Yoruba youths demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing.
The latest violence has revived concerns over ethnic tensions in parts of Ibadan.
Read Also: Oyo Relaxes Curfew Measures in 10 LGAs
Backstory…
A similar clash between Hausa and Yoruba residents in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area in July 2022 sparked widespread concern under mirroring circumstances. In that incident, lottery kiosk operator Mufutau Sanni was stabbed while attempting to break up a brawl between a Yoruba man and a Hausa trader.
Although initial reports suggested that one person had died in the 2022 altercation, the Oyo State Police Command later clarified that the incident recorded no fatalities.
The Oyo State Police Command had not yet released an official statement regarding the Ojoo incident at the time of reporting, though security personnel remain on patrol to maintain order and prevent further bloodshed.
