The police yesterday confirmed that seven persons were killed in the communal clash between indigenes and Hausa residents in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Also, the state government said it has immediately ordered the deployment of heavy security forces to the scene of the crisis in Ile Ife.
The clash which started early this morning was allegedly as a result of feud between Hausa man and a Yoruba woman yesterday.
Investigation showed that properties worth millions of naira, including vehicles had been burnt by both sides.
Angry mob were seen destroying goods belonging to Hausa traders at lageere in retaliation to the havoc done by the Hausa around at Sabo market.
A combined team of the Nigerian army and police are currently bringing the situation under control.
As at the time of filing this report, the people living and trading around lageere, Obalufon, sabo and other streets in the town have all ran to safety while human and vehicular movement has been restricted to some areas.
The police have also rescued pupils in all the crises ridden area to the police Area Command in Ife.
Meanwhile, the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Aminu Koji, assured the people that he would reinforce his men to ensure that nothing of such happen again in the evening.
In the mayhem, no fewer than 300 Hausa people said to have been captured by the Ife people. However, the Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has ordered that they should be released, saying nothing should happen to them as he called for calm.
Information has it that trouble started when a Hausa man living at Sabo area of the town was accused to have slept with a wife of an Ife man who reportedly went berserk when he discovered that both have had sexual affairs
The incident which was said to have been generating controversy between the Yoruba and the Hausa people living in the community since last Tuesday when the act allegedly took place, snowballed into an orgy of violence in the early hours of yesterday when dangerous weapons like daggers, guns, clubs, arrows, cutlasses and swords were freely used in a free-for-all fierce battle between the two tribes.
At the battle ground around Sabo area of the town, the Hausa people said to have made used of daggers, arrows and bows to confront the Yoruba people who was said to be armed with Dane guns, cutlasses and charms.
When our reporter visited the battle ground, the Ife warriors were seen on the street, threatening not to retreat as they alleged conspiracy, as that some police men dispatched to maintain law and order were on the side of the Hausa people because the police team was led by a Hausa man.
Also, several shops were reportedly looted by miscreants who took advantage of the violence that engulfed the ancient city to perpetrate inhuman acts while several other havoc was reportedly wrecked by thugs.
Shop owners locked up their shops while the area was completely deserted by both commercial and private vehicle owners. Residents and inhabitants of the area had relocated to another part of the town so as not to be victims of blood bath.
Speaking on the development, Imam Muhammed Basir, the senior special assistant to the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Arewa Matters, said: “The situation has taken a very dangerous dimension because as “I am talking to you now, people have been shot dead.
“I have notified the state governor and the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, and the state Director of the Department of State Security Services (SSS) on the development.”
Speaking on the matter, the acting Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Koji, who spoke through the command police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, said the policemen are in control of the situation.
Also, the Ooni of Ife, has cautioned the warring factions to give peace a chance, saying there is no gain in crisis.
Speaking through his media aide, Moses Olafare, the monarch said he had instructed some palace men to see to the rescue of the Hausa people who were captured by the Ife people in the mayhem.
The state government therefore warned those involved in this act of criminal breach of public peace to end it immediately as the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone arrested.
