Tension as Yoruba, Hausa Clash in Ibadan Over Alleged Killing of Tricycle Mechanic

Tension gripped parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday after violence erupted between some Yoruba and Hausa residents following the alleged killing of a Yoruba tricycle mechanic in the Ojoo area.

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The unrest, which reportedly spread across parts of Ojoo in Akinyele Local Government Area, prompted the deployment of security operatives to prevent the situation from escalating into a wider ethnic conflict.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim, a tricycle mechanic of Yoruba origin, was allegedly stabbed to death overnight during an altercation involving suspected Hausa scrap collectors.

Residents claimed the suspects allegedly pulled a weapon from a sack containing collected scrap materials before chasing a group of people and fatally stabbing the mechanic. However, these claims have not been independently verified by authorities.

The incident reportedly sparked outrage among residents, with angry youths setting some properties ablaze and confronting members of the Hausa community in the area.

Witnesses also alleged that many Northerners living in the community had gone into hiding as tensions mounted, while some Yoruba youths demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing.

Officials of the Oyo State joint security outfit, Operation Burst, alongside other security agencies, were reportedly deployed to the area to restore calm and prevent further violence.

Authorities have appealed to residents to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands, assuring that those behind the incident would be identified and brought to justice.

The latest violence has revived concerns over ethnic tensions in parts of Ibadan.

In July 2022, a similar clash between Hausa and Yoruba residents in Ibadan South West Local Government Area led to widespread panic after a lottery kiosk operator, Mufutau Sanni, was attacked while attempting to separate a fight involving a Hausa trader and a Yoruba man.

Although initial reports claimed one person died in that incident, the Oyo State Police Command later said no life was lost.

As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident in Ojoo, while security personnel continued patrols in the area to maintain peace and prevent further violence.