*As Yoruba, Hausa leaders say clash not ethnic crisis
By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Oyo state government has called on youths and residents of Ojoo in Akinyele local government Area of the state, to embrace peace, as the government conducts an investigation into the cause of the violence that broke out in the area.
The Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, who made this appeal on Wednesday, when he conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the affected area, warned that the government would not tolerate any form of disorderliness and illegality capable of disrupting the peace of the state.
He also condemned the violence, warning that criminal acts should not be given ethnic or tribal colouration.
While commending the security agents who were deployed to the area for taking control of the situation, the deputy governor directed them to maintain a strong presence in the area in order to prevent further escalation and restore normalcy.
He assured residents that the government would conduct a thorough inquiry to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crisis, noting that anyone or group found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.
He was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde; Executive Assistant on Security to the Governor, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd) and the Executive Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Wole Akinleye.
He said, “There was a civil confusion around this place, perpetrated by some criminal elements, having the tendency of snowballing to tribal clash and we must nip it in the bud.
“Criminals are criminals and there is no tribal colouration to criminality. So, we want to ensure peace and stability here in Ojoo and, indeed, all parts of Oyo State.
“So, we have come to appeal to our people here, particularly the youth, that they should give peace a chance, because government has waded into the matter now.
“We are profiling, we are investigating and whoever is found culpable will be brought to face the law, whether he is an Hausa man, Igbo man, Yoruba man or whatever. Criminality is not exclusive to a particular tribe.
“We want to know what triggered this crisis and once we know, then we will deal with it decisively. But our appeal now is for all our young men and women, youths, and elders to allow the security people to do their jobs.
“The second appeal is to tell our people not to take laws into their hands. That is crucial. You know we already have security challenges on our hands and we do not want the situation to be compounded.
“Let us be well-focused so that the challenges can be surmounted. Please, be patient so that this one will also be addressed as we are addressing the current challenges that we have.
“We want to appreciate all our youths, men and women, shop owners, for their patience. We understand that we have recorded two casualties. We will probe, we will investigate, and the perpetrators will be brought to book.
“The appeal now is for everybody to leave this space. Go back to your homes and allow the security personnel to take charge of this space for now in order to restore peace.”
Earlier, a youth representative in the community appealed to the government to engage leaders of the affected parties to broker a lasting truce, expressing concern that failure to achieve peace could result in possible reprisals.
Lawal later held a meeting with some leaders of the Yoruba and Hausa communities, and some stakeholders in the area as well as the Akinyele local government Chairman and the governor’s security team in his office where the community leaders said there was no crisis between the Hausa and Yoruba people in the community.
They also stated their resolve to work in harmony to ensure that peace reigns permanently in the area.
