…15 suspect arrested-Police source
By Ahmed Ajikobi
At least eight lives were reportedly lost following a clash between Yoruba and Hausa youths of Oloru and Kanbi communities, Moro local government of Kwara State, over a missing phone, Tuesday evening.
It was gathered that the fisticuff between the Hausa and Yoruba youths seized the peace of the area while it lasted.
To avoid suffering further casualties, some Hausa men were said to have trekked the distance from Oloru to Okolowo area around 2am on Wednesday.
As at the time of filing this report, military officers had been deployed to the affected communities to calm nerves.
According to a resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Yahaya, the incident occured after a Yoruba youth was accused of phone theft.
He said the allegation was raised at a shop where people normally charge their phones at the rate of N50 per phone.
“They said he (the boy)was the only person who entered the shop but after he left, the owner of the phone went into the shop only to discover that his phone was missing.
“The people went to the suspect to ask about the missing phone but he denied any knowledge of it,” he divulged.
Speaking further, the eyewitness said that the missing phone was later seen yesterday with another person using it.
“The owner told the person holding the phone that it belongs to him but the former claimed he bought the phone from someone. The matter became a big issue. They followed the man to where he claimed he bought the phone but on getting there, the person that allegedly sold the phone took them to another person till they got to the prime suspect who entered the charging shop in the first place.
“The prime suspect who is Yoruba boy was arrested and instead of handing him over to the police they began to fight with dangerous weapons.
“In the process, they started attacking the Yoruba youths which resulted in injuries to many people while five people were pronounced dead.
“The fight extended to Oloru where three Hausas were reportedly dead. Everyone ran for their lives and several lorries were visibly stranded on the road as a result of the clash.
” I also ran to Oloru to meet my younger brother with several other Hausa men who trekked from Oloru to Okolowo. We got to Okolowo around 2amm today (Wednesday).”
Meanwhile, a police sourcem yesterday told our reporter that 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the clash adding that more arrests will still be made.
When contacted on the telephone last night, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the incident, however said there were no casualties.
He said, “I can confirm to you that we witnessed a clash in Kanbi area of Moro local government earlier today, our men were swiftly drafted to the scene to restore normalcy.
“A phone was taken sometimes ago by one person among the residents of that area in a shop where they were charging phones.
“The people and the vigilante around arrested the suspect and handed him to the police officer. The case was investigated and some phones were recovered from him.
“The matter was taken to court and later adjourned. The owner of one of the phones went to the shop where they charge phones and demanded for his phone. He was told to be patient that his phone was among the ones in court. They told him he will receive his phone after the court judgement but he objected saying he cannot wait for the court judgement. In the process, this resulted into a fight.”
Speaking further, he said that the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had already visited the scene of the incident and addressed the two communities.
Okasanmi, who said the situation is under control however debunked the claim that the clash was between Hausa and Yoruba youths but people of two communities consisting of Yoruba, Hausa and Fulani.
On the numbers of arrest made so far, he said, ” I cannot confirme the exact number of the arrest made but the command has made many arrest in connection to the incident.
” The matter is under investigation and the police commissioner will soon address the press over the matter.”
