Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspects over the violent unrest that erupted in the Ojoo area of Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, leaving several people dead and others injured.
Police spokesperson Olayinka Ayanlade said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Iyaganku, where detectives have begun a full investigation into the attempted robbery allegation, mob action, public disturbance and other related offences.
According to the police, the command strongly condemned jungle justice and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that criminal suspects should always be handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.
The violence followed the death of a commercial tricycle rider during a dispute linked to a Point-of-Sale transaction in the Ojoo community.
The incident triggered clashes on Tuesday night that extended into Wednesday morning.
An eyewitness, Iya Kadijat, said the dispute began when a network failure reportedly prevented confirmation of a transaction after the rider had already collected money from a POS operator.
“While they were arguing, somebody suddenly came, slapped him and stabbed him. He did not die immediately. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but gave up the ghost on Wednesday morning. This did not go down well with his fellow tricycle riders, friends and some members of his family, who besieged the area,” she said.
Another witness, Azeez Olamiposi, alleged that the rider was attacked despite assurances that he would not flee.
“He kept telling them, ‘I can’t run away. My Maruwa is here. This is the key to it. This is my phone. Keep everything. I’m not running.’ But they didn’t listen. They started beating him and stabbing him,” he said.
The Oyo State Government has appealed for calm, assuring residents that those responsible for the violence will be brought to justice. During an assessment visit to the area, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal said the unrest was instigated by criminal elements and urged residents, especially youths, to cooperate with security agencies.
“The government has already commenced profiling and investigating those involved, and anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law, irrespective of whether they are Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or from any other ethnic group. Criminality is not the exclusive preserve of any tribe,” Lawal said.
Police said security has been strengthened in the affected area and other strategic locations across the metropolis to prevent further breakdown of law and order, while assuring residents that all those found culpable would be prosecuted.
