Oyo market shut as Yoruba, Hausa clashes go full blown

Clashes between Hausa and Yoruba Youths took a dangerous dimension on with casualties on both sides on Saturday in Shasha market of Oyo State.

Source said clashes followed the reported death of a Yoruba cobbler who allegedly charmed by a Hausa cart pusher.

The youths were seen unleashing mayhem on one another and on shops belonging tonthise they believed are their enemies.

Before now, Oyo State has been tension soaked over insecurity and other forms of criminality believed to be carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Igangan and Ibarakpa area of the State.

But residents on Saturday said they had fled the entire area of Shasha as there reports of pending crisis, saying that they could not pass the night in their homes on Friday night for fear of overnight attack from any of the warring groups.

Sources said despite the deployment of police and security agencies in the area, yet to be identified groups razed the Shasha market overnight by burning down some shops, kiosk and wares of some traders.

Meanwhile, Oyo State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Shasha market while the embattled market has also been ordered shut down indefinitely.

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa said, the shut was a proactive measure to stop further killings and destruction of properties in the market.

Some residents of the area who spoke with newsmen blamed security operatives for not doing much to avert the crisis, noting that they were stationed at the gate of the market, while attacks are being carried out inside the market.

One accused police of protecting Seriki Shasha a (Hausa leader) while the house of the Baale Shaha was left unprotected.

Reacting to the development on his verified Twitter handle, Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial district in the 8th Senate, described the situation as dangerous, while he urged government to cautiously handle ethnic crisis before it gets out of hand.

“The Hausa community was attacked in Ibadan as the Southerners seem frustrated about the recent activities of Herdsmen in the city.

“However, the attack isn’t a justifiable one and you just continue to hope things doesn’t get out of hands in the State.

“Nigeria is threading on the path of inter-ethnic conflict and it’s high time the Federal Government intervened. The government needs to take proactive measures concerning the issue of Herdsmen and inhabitants of the South.”