By Faith Ajewole
Following the violent disturbance in the Ojoo area of Akinyele Local Government Area, the Oyo State Government has taken a decisive stance against attempts to twist the tragic incident into an ethnic conflict, vowing instead to treat the matter with the full force of criminal law.
Leading an assessment visit on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal strongly condemned the unrest, describing the violence as a strictly criminal act rather than a clash between ethnic groups. He issued a stern warning against individuals attempting to “ethnicise” the incident, insisting that criminality must never be associated with any specific tribe. “ Criminality has no tribal identity. Our priority is to restore peace and stability in Ojoo and across Oyo State. Anyone found culpable, irrespective of ethnic background, will face the full weight of the law,” Lawal asserted.
The Deputy Governor appealed directly to residents, particularly the youth, to refrain from taking the law into their own hands via reprisals. He urged the community to cooperate fully with security agencies by granting them unrestricted access to the affected areas. Furthermore, Lawal assured the public that the state government is launching a comprehensive investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the violence to prosecute those responsible and guarantee justice for the victims.
Echoing the state government’s position, the Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Hon. Akinwole Akinleye urged residents to remain calm and maintain perspective. He reiterated that a commercial dispute should not be viewed through an ethnic lens.
“ This has nothing to do with ethnicity. It is simply a criminal matter. The police and the military have taken charge of the situation, arrests have been made, and I am confident the law will take its course,” Akinleye said. He added that leaders of both the Hausa and Yoruba communities have already commenced proactive dialogue aimed at preserving the long-standing peaceful coexistence in the area.
As part of the ongoing probe, authorities are vetting eyewitness testimonies regarding how the crisis began. According to an account by a resident, Azeez Olamiposi, the unrest was allegedly triggered by a Tuesday night dispute between a commercial tricycle rider and a Point of Sale (POS) operator.
Olamiposi alleged that a network failure delayed confirmation of a cash withdrawal. Despite the rider reportedly offering his tricycle keys and mobile phone as collateral, a third party allegedly intervened and assaulted the rider, who later died from his injuries. Tensions escalated the following morning when a crowd gathered to demand answers, leading to fresh violence where several others were injured, and gunshots were reportedly heard.
State authorities emphasise that these claims are currently treated as allegations under active investigation.
Institutional Reassurance
Confirming the restoration of law and order, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Ayanlade, stated that security interventions were successful. “The situation in Ojoo has been brought under control, and the area is calm,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, added, appealing to all aggrieved parties to sheathe their swords. In a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, the traditional ruler emphasised that the historic harmony among various ethnic groups in Ibadan must be fiercely protected.
“Regardless of where we come from, we should continue to see ourselves as brothers and sisters,” The Olubadan said.
Acknowledging that disagreements are an inevitable part of human interaction, he further cautioned against letting them degenerate into violence, particularly under the country’s current security climate. He commended the police and sister security agencies for their prompt intervention, which averted a further breakdown of law and order.
As of Wednesday evening, combined security forces maintained heavy patrols across Ojoo and adjoining communities as normalcy gradually returned to the commercial hub.
