Stories by Ahmed Ajikobi
A renewed clash between the Hausa and Yoruba in Kanbi area on the outskirt of Ilorin, Kwara State capital has left several people injured, on Thursday.
Pilot Crime gathered that the communities were thrown into turmoil as the warring parties clashed again in what was described as reprisal attack.
A resident, Musa Awali, who spoke to this medium said, ” People ran helter skelter as the youth attacked and injured many in the interethnic fight. The streets were deserted and economic activities paralysed.
“This is disheartening because the state Command has made efforts to arrest the situation and several arrests were made in connection with the clash.”
The number and identities of people who were injured in the renewed attack could not be ascertained by this medium at the time of filing this report.
Efforts to get the state Police Spokesperson, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi to confirm the development proved abortive as calls put to his mobile phones were not picked.
He, however, wrote ” sorry I have a meeting now” in reply to a text message sent to his phone.
The text message reads” Sir, I learnt there was another fight in Kanbi on Thursday, are you aware of that? And what is the command doing to prevent reoccurrence?
Recall that this medium had reported that eight lives were allegedly lost following a clash between Yoruba and Hausa youths of Oloru and Kanbi communities, over a missing phone, Tuesday evening.
It was gathered that the fisticuff between the Hausa and Yoruba youths disturbed 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.
Military officers were said to have been deployed to the affected communities to calm frayed 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.
Meanwhile, a police source told our reporter that 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the clash, adding that more arrests will still be made.
