•As Olubadan sues for calm
Following the violence that rocked Shasha market in Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan, the Oyo State, on Friday , February 12, 2021, the state government has ordered the immediate closure of the trading arena indefinitely.
Disclosing this in a statement on Saturday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said that the the directive was given by the governor to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area.
The curfew imposed on Shasha market and its adjoining areas is to run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
In the statement, residents of the affected areas were urged to go about their legitimate businesses peacefully, with the warning that anyone caught perpetrating violence would face the wrath of the law.
The statement read: “His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area.
“The governor has also approved the imposition of curfew on Shasha. It will run from 6 p.m. to 7a.m.
“Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.
“Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law.”
Also, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has urged all warring factions in the on-going crisis at Shasha, to sheathe their swords and shun crisis.
The Olubadan made this known on Saturday during virtual meetings with relevant stakeholders, including Hausa/Fulani leaders in the ancient city, while bemoaning the high level of insecurity in the land in recent times.
According to a statement by the king’s Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Adeola Oloko, Oba Adetunji urged everyone to shun violence and bitterness, by ensuring that minor conflicts do not degenerate.
According to him, “many of our compatriots have been living with one another for a long time. We grow up and attend schools together. People from diverse ethnic groups inter marry and give birth to lovely children.”
Olubadan stated that it came to him as a surprise that crisis could break out in Shasha, culminating in large-scale destruction, such as burning of properties belonging to neighbours.
“Immediately the report of the crisis got to us in the palace yesterday (Friday), the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde was the first person I called, and we got his promise that appropriate action would be taken, as sinners would not go unpunished,” the first class monarch said.
Oba Adetunji urged the Governor to look into the possibility of compensating all those who were affected by the needless crisis.
It will be recalled that one person died on Thursday, during a fight between two people at Shasha market, leading to a clash between the Yoruba and Hausa, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Vehicles were also vandalized, while kiosks were razed and various other structures destroyed.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, and the Senior Special Adviser to the state governor on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd), visited the scene on Friday to calm the situation and ensure that security was fortified in the area of the clash.
However, Thenewsbearer gathered a body set ablaze was seen by some law enforcement agents, while the crisis continued on Saturday, leading to the imposition of a curfew by the state government.
Confirming the story, the state police spokesman, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said that peace was gradually returning to the area, while stakeholders had been consulted to appeal to their people.
