Eyewitnesses have narrated how a disagreement in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, degenerated into a violent clash that resulted in the death of a young boy, injuries to several others and the destruction of property. Residents who witnessed the incident recounted how what began as a minor disagreement quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation that threw the community into panic.
According to The Nation, one of the residents, Azeez Olamiposi, alleged that the violence erupted after people gathered on Wednesday morning to seek clarification over the reported killing of an individual.
According to him, the situation took a violent turn when members of different groups confronted one another, leading to a clash that spread across the area.
“This morning, when Yoruba boys and other people came to find out what had really happened, the next thing we saw was people from the other side rushing there and starting a fight,” Olamiposi narrated.
He further alleged that the crisis worsened after an armed man, whose identity could not be immediately confirmed, appeared at the scene carrying an assault rifle.
“Before we knew it, there was a man who said he was either a policeman or a soldier,” Olamiposi alleged. “He was carrying an AK-47 and wearing a blue jalabiya (long robe). Everyone was afraid because of the gun he was carrying.”
According to the witness, the armed man positioned himself between members of the Yoruba and Hausa communities before allegedly making statements that further heightened the tension.
“He stood between the Yoruba and the Hausa, then he told the Hausa people to chase the Yoruba away. Immediately, one of their men, who they called ‘General’, brought out a gun and started shooting.”
Olamiposi claimed that during the shooting, a young boy identified as Kamorudeen Abdulrasheed, who had reportedly left home to buy noodles, was struck by a bullet and died, while several other residents sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
“While he was shooting, he killed a young boy who had gone to buy noodles. The boy died. Several other people were also injured and are now in the hospital,” he stated.
Another resident, Mrs Janet Ayoola, who sells foodstuffs close to the scene of the incident, recounted the terrifying experience, saying she was forced to hide beneath her stall for more than an hour as the violence escalated around her.
Mrs Janet Ayoola recalled that she feared for her life during the violence, explaining that she remained hidden under her stall as people ran in different directions while the clashes continued around her.
Olamiposi appealed to the authorities to ensure justice for the victims, alleging that he was also attacked during the violence. He said they wanted justice and insisted that those responsible should no longer be allowed to remain in the area. He further claimed that he was nearly injured during the incident and alleged that he was also attacked.
He also alleged that security agencies were aware of a hill in the area which, according to him, had become a hideout for criminal elements. Olamiposi claimed that the police, military and other security agencies knew about the location, describing it as a base used by bandits and insisting that many people were aware of its existence.
Questioning how a civilian allegedly came to possess a military-grade weapon, Olamiposi wondered why a Nigerian civilian would be carrying such a firearm…….See More
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