Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Oyo State Government has appealed to youths and residents of the Ojoo area in Akinyele Local Government Area to embrace peace, as it launched a full-scale investigation into the violent clash that erupted in the community on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, leaving at least two persons dead and several others injured.
The violence, which broke out along the busy Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, triggered panic among residents and motorists, forcing many businesses to shut down temporarily while commuters fled the area for safety. According to eyewitness accounts, the crisis began on Tuesday night following a disagreement between a commercial tricycle rider and a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator over a transaction that was delayed due to a network failure. The dispute escalated, leading to fisticuffs and the death of the tricycle rider. News of the rider's death sparked outrage on Wednesday morning, as some youths staged a protest that turned violent and resulted in the death of a teenager. The clash between the two ethnic groups escalated to the burning of property before the arrival of security operatives.
In response to the unrest, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal led a state government delegation to the troubled community for an on-the-spot assessment. Addressing aggrieved youths and residents, Lawal described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, stressing that the state government was committed to restoring peace. "We have come here on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde to appeal to everyone to remain calm. We sympathise with the families of those who lost their loved ones, but violence is never the solution to any disagreement," he said.
The Deputy Governor assured residents that the government would carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the clash. "We will investigate the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate incident. Anyone found culpable will be brought to justice. The government will not sweep this matter under the carpet," Lawal declared. He warned against actions capable of fueling ethnic or communal tension, insisting that Oyo State would not allow anyone to jeopardise its reputation as one of the most peaceful states in the country. "Oyo State belongs to all law-abiding Nigerians. We will not condone any act capable of causing tribal conflict or threatening the peaceful coexistence our people have enjoyed over the years," he said.
Lawal also cautioned against ethnicising the incident, stressing that criminality had no tribal identity. "Criminals are criminals and there is no tribal colouration to criminality. So, we want to ensure peace and stability here in Ojoo and, indeed, all parts of Oyo State," he said. He further disclosed that security agencies had been directed to maintain a strong presence in the area to prevent any reprisal attack or breakdown of law and order. "Security personnel will remain here until normalcy is fully restored. We are determined to ensure that this crisis does not escalate," he added.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde; the Executive Assistant on Security to the Governor, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); and the Executive Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Honourable Wole Akinleye. Security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) had taken strategic positions across the affected community to maintain law and order and prevent further violence.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, community leader Azzez Olamiposi called on the state government to facilitate reconciliation among the affected groups. "We appeal to the government to organise a peace meeting involving the leaders of all the affected groups. Dialogue is the only lasting solution, and we believe such a meeting will help prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate incident," Olamiposi said. He also urged residents to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid ongoing investigations.
The Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Honourable Akinwole Akinleye, also urged residents to remain calm, stressing that the incident should not be viewed through an ethnic lens. "This has nothing to do with ethnicity. It is simply a criminal matter. The police and the military have taken charge of the situation, arrests have been made, and I am confident the law will take its course," he said. Akinleye disclosed that leaders of the Hausa and Yoruba communities had begun dialogue aimed at preventing further violence and sustaining the peaceful coexistence that has long existed in the area.
The Oyo State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the arrests made in connection with the clash, but the government has assured residents that anyone found culpable, irrespective of ethnic background, will face the full weight of the law. The government has also appealed to residents to refrain from reprisals and cooperate with security agencies by allowing them unrestricted access to the affected areas. As the investigation continues, the government has urged all parties to give peace a chance and allow security personnel to do their jobs.
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