At least two people were reportedly killed after a violent clash erupted between Yoruba and Hausa groups in Ojo, Ibadan, in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State following the alleged killing of a commercial tricycle rider.
Eyewitnesses said the violence was triggered by a disagreement between the tricycle rider, said to be Yoruba, and a Point of Sale (POS) operator, identified as Hausa, over a failed cash transaction allegedly caused by network issues.
Residents said the incident began around midnight when the tricycle rider visited the POS stand to withdraw cash.
Believing the transfer had been successful, the operator handed over the money, after which the rider parked his tricycle and crossed the road to buy an item.
“However, when the rider returned, the POS operator informed him that the transaction had not gone through. After checking the transaction, both men reportedly discovered that the failure was caused by network issues,” a witness said on Wednesday.
“The rider then offered to leave his phone, tricycle and keys with the POS operator because it was already late, promising to return the following day to resolve the matter,” he added.
Residents alleged that shortly afterwards, some armed Hausa men emerged from a nearby hill and opened fire, killing the tricycle rider and at least one other person.
Following the incident, some residents called on Governor Seyi Makinde to evacuate those living on the hill, claiming it has continued to pose security challenges.
They said people from different tribes live on the hill but alleged that it has become a hideout for bandits and a source of recurring violence. They urged the governor to clear the hill and rehabilitate the area.
Some of the residents also expressed frustration, saying they had tolerated the situation for too long and no longer wanted the occupants to remain there.
The Deputy Governor later visited the scene alongside security operatives to assess the situation.
Speaking at the scene, the Deputy Governor described the incident as unfortunate and said the Oyo State Government would not tolerate such violence.
He appealed to youths and community leaders to remain calm, assuring them that the government was fully aware of the situation and had already commenced an investigation.
He urged residents not to take the law into their own hands, stressing that anyone found to be connected with the incident would face the full weight of the law.
The Deputy Governor said urgent steps would be taken to prevent the situation from escalating further and assured residents that all those responsible for the attack would be apprehended.
He confirmed that two casualties had been officially recorded and appealed to residents to remain calm.
He also assured the people of Ojo that the incident would not be ignored and urged anyone with useful information to come forward and assist the investigation.
The Deputy Governor added that security operatives would remain in the area to ensure the safety of lives and property.