Oyo State Government on Wednesday appealed to the warring youth factions involved in the violent clash at Ojoo in Akinyele Local Government Area to lay down their arms and embrace peace, assuring residents that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crisis.
The government also warned that it would not tolerate any form of violence capable of creating ethnic tension or threatening the peace and security of the state.
The appeal was made by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal, who led a state government delegation to the troubled community shortly after the clash, which reportedly claimed two lives and disrupted commercial and social activities in the area.
The Ojoo area of Ibadan was thrown into chaos in the early hours of Wednesday following the outbreak of violence along the busy Ojoo Expressway. The incident triggered panic among residents and motorists, forcing many businesses to shut down temporarily while commuters fled the area for safety.
Addressing aggrieved youths and residents during the visit, Lawal described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, stressing that the state government was committed to restoring peace.
“We have come here on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde to appeal to everyone to remain calm. We sympathise with the families of those who lost their loved ones, but violence is never the solution to any disagreement,” he said.
The Deputy Governor assured residents that the government would carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the clash.
“We will investigate the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate incident. Anyone found culpable will be brought to justice. The government will not sweep this matter under the carpet,” Lawal declared.
He warned against actions capable of fueling ethnic or communal tension, insisting that Oyo State would not allow anyone to jeopardise its reputation as one of the most peaceful states in the country.
“Oyo State belongs to all law-abiding Nigerians. We will not condone any act capable of causing tribal conflict or threatening the peaceful coexistence our people have enjoyed over the years,” he said.
The Deputy Governor further disclosed that security agencies had been directed to maintain a strong presence in the area to prevent any reprisal attack or breakdown of law and order.
“Security personnel will remain here until normalcy is fully restored. We are determined to ensure that this crisis does not escalate,” he added.
He also appealed to community leaders, religious leaders and youth groups to support the government’s efforts by promoting dialogue and encouraging their followers to maintain peace.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, community leader Azzez Olamiposi called on the state government to facilitate reconciliation among the affected groups.
“We appeal to the government to organise a peace meeting involving the leaders of all the affected groups. Dialogue is the only lasting solution, and we believe such a meeting will help prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate incident,” Olamiposi said.
He also urged residents to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid ongoing investigations.
As of the time the Deputy Governor concluded his visit, security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) and other security agencies had taken strategic positions across the affected community to maintain law and order and prevent further violence.
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