Tension Rocks Ibadan’s Ojoo As Clash Between Yoruba Traders, Hausa Scavengers Leaves Tricycle Operator, Passerby Dead 

Ibadan, Oyo State– Tension has continued to escalate in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, following a violent clash between Yoruba traders and Hausa scavengers that reportedly claimed the lives of a commercial tricycle (Maruwa) operator and a young passerby, while leaving several others injured.

The violence has thrown the commercial community into panic, with traders and residents calling on the Oyo State Government to immediately evacuate the Hausa scavengers from the area, warning that they no longer feel safe living alongside them.

Afrika Eyes gathered that the incident began on Tuesday night at about 11:00 p.m. when a commercial tricycle operator reportedly visited a Point of Sale (POS) stand to withdraw money.

According to eyewitnesses, the transaction encountered a delay after the transfer allegedly failed to reflect, despite the POS operator having already handed over the cash to the tricycle rider.

To reassure the POS vendor that he would not flee, the tricycle operator reportedly handed over the key to his tricycle and his mobile phone while waiting for the transaction to be resolved.

However, within a few minutes, a group of suspected Hausa scavengers allegedly stormed the scene and attacked the tricycle operator.

Witnesses alleged that the attackers repeatedly stabbed the victim until he died.

The killing sparked outrage in the area and allegedly triggered fresh violence that escalated into gunfire on Wednesday morning.

In a video obtained by Afirka Eyes, one of the Yoruba traders who said he narrowly escaped being killed after being shot by suspected Hausa scavengers recounted how the violence unfolded.

He said, “What happened in Ojoo started since yesterday night at about 11 p.m. A Maruwa (tricycle) operator went to withdraw money from a POS. However, they said the money had not reflected, even though they had already given him the cash.

“Meanwhile, the Maruwa operator gave the POS vendor his tricycle key and his phone so they would know he could not run away.

“But in less than five minutes, they rushed to the place. They started attacking the young man, stabbing him repeatedly until he died. The young man has been dead since last night. The trouble started from last night and escalated.

“This morning, before we arrived here from Central and Cabling, when we got here, the boys picked up guns and started shooting at us. A little boy who had gone to buy Indomie was hit by a bullet, and the child is now dead.

“Right now, the whole area is under gunfire. Bullets are flying everywhere. This is not a joke; bullets are everywhere. If it hadn’t been for God’s protection, wouldn’t I have died this morning? They even fired at me. They wanted to shoot me.

“Imagine! The police officers were there, but they just stood by watching with their arms folded. They didn’t do anything to protect us.”

The eyewitness further alleged that security personnel present at the scene failed to intervene while the attackers opened fire, accusing the police of watching the violence without taking action to protect residents.

As tension mounted, Oyo State Deputy Governor reportedly visited the area in an effort to calm the situation and prevent further violence.

However, traders and Yoruba residents who addressed the deputy governor insisted that the Hausa scavengers should be relocated from Ojoo, arguing that they now pose a security threat to the community.

One of the Yoruba representatives who spoke during the meeting said residents no longer wanted the scavengers living among them.

He said, “We don’t want them to come and kill us at night while we are sleeping. We don’t want them living in our community. Tell them to leave. Ojoo is a commercial hub.”

The residents maintained that relocating the scavengers was necessary to prevent further bloodshed and restore peace to the bustling commercial district.

As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement confirming the casualties or responding to allegations by residents that officers at the scene failed to intervene during the attack.

Meanwhile, tension remained high in the Ojoo area as security operatives continued efforts to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.