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The Oyo State Government has confirmed that four people were killed and several others injured following a violent clash between rival groups in the Ojoo area of Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
The government also assured residents that those responsible for the violence would be arrested and prosecuted.
The clash, which began on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, was reportedly triggered by the killing of a commercial tricycle rider during a dispute over a Point-of-Sale (POS) transaction.
The violence forced traders, including those operating at the Ojoo Motor Park under the Park Management System, to shut their businesses as tension spread across the area.
Residents alleged that the crisis started after a disagreement between some wheelbarrow pushers and a tricycle rider over a failed POS transaction caused by network problems.
According to eyewitness accounts, the rider had collected cash from a POS operator, but the transaction could not be confirmed because of poor network service. While efforts were being made to resolve the issue, he was reportedly attacked and stabbed by an unidentified person. He later died in hospital.
“Around 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight, a man riding a Maruwa went to a POS at Strabag because he wanted to make a withdrawal, “ an eyewitness, identified as Iya Kadijat, said.
“They gave him the money, but while they were trying to complete the transaction, the network was bad. He had already collected the money and used it, but the POS operator said the transaction had not gone through.
“He said, ‘This is the key to my Maruwa. This is my Maruwa. This is my phone. You can keep them. I’m not running anywhere.’
“While they were arguing, somebody suddenly came, slapped him and stabbed him. He was rushed to the hospital but died on Wednesday morning,” she added.
Residents said news of the rider’s death prompted his colleagues and associates to mobilise, leading to the violent confrontation.
Some witnesses also claimed that gunshots were fired during the clash, leaving another person dead and several others injured..
Speaking during an assessment visit to the area on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal attributed the violence to criminal elements rather than ethnic tensions.
Lawal said the government’s immediate priority was to restore peace and maintain security in Ojoo and across the state, stressing that criminality should not be linked to any ethnic group.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to preserving its reputation for peaceful coexistence and assured residents that security agencies had been directed to apprehend those responsible and ensure they were brought to justice.
“The civil unrest in this area has been instigated by criminal elements. Criminals are simply criminals, and criminality has no tribal identity. Our priority is to ensure the restoration of peace and stability here in Ojoo and, indeed, across every part of Oyo State,” Lawal said.
“Oyo State has always been renowned for its peaceful coexistence, stability, progress and development. Despite the current situation, we remain committed to sustaining that legacy,” he added.
