The Oyo State Government has confirmed the death of two persons following a violent disturbance in Ojo, Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the unrest that erupted on Wednesday.
The disturbance, which temporarily disrupted commercial and socioeconomic activities around the area and forced many residents to flee, reportedly stemmed from the alleged killing of a commercial tricycle rider during a dispute over a Point-of-Sale (POS) transaction on Tuesday night.
Although some eyewitnesses claimed that more than two people lost their lives, the state government said only two fatalities had been officially confirmed, stressing that investigations were ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Security operatives, including personnel of the police and the military, were immediately deployed to the community to restore normalcy, while government officials, traditional rulers and community leaders appealed for calm, insisting that the incident should not be given an ethnic coloration.
Addressing residents during an assessment visit on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, described the unrest as the handiwork of criminal elements rather than an ethnic conflict.
“Criminality has no tribal identity. Our priority is to restore peace and stability in Ojo and across Oyo State. Anyone found culpable, irrespective of ethnic background, will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
Lawal urged residents, particularly youths, to refrain from reprisals and cooperate with security agencies by vacating the affected area to enable unrestricted security operations.
He assured the public that the state government would thoroughly investigate both the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance, prosecute those responsible, and ensure justice for the victims.
The deputy governor reiterated that the government had officially confirmed two fatalities while investigations continue to ascertain other details surrounding the incident.
Security personnel remained on ground as of Wednesday evening, with normalcy gradually returning to the community.
An eyewitness, Azeez Olamiposi, who spoke to newsmen had alleged that the crisis began after a commercial tricycle rider visited a POS operator to withdraw cash late Tuesday night.
According to him, a network failure delayed confirmation of the transaction after the rider had collected the money, leading to an argument.
The witness claimed the rider repeatedly assured those present that he would not abscond and even offered his tricycle, its keys and his mobile phone as security pending the resolution of the transaction.
He, however, alleged that the disagreement turned violent when another individual intervened and allegedly attacked the rider, who later died from his injuries.
Olamiposi further alleged that tensions escalated on Wednesday morning when residents gathered to demand an explanation over the incident, resulting in a clash during which several persons sustained injuries.
He also alleged that firearms were discharged during the disturbance, though security agencies have yet to confirm that claim.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Hon. Akinwole Akinleye, appealed to residents to remain peaceful and allow security agencies to conclude their investigations.
He stressed that the incident was purely criminal in nature and should not be interpreted along ethnic lines.
“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,” he said.
Akinleye disclosed that leaders of both the Hausa and Yoruba communities had commenced dialogue to prevent further escalation of the crisis and preserve the long-standing peaceful coexistence in the area.