Olubadan sues for peace over deadly Ibadan clash

Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has urged for peace following a violent clash in the Ojoo community of Oyo State that resulted in four deaths and several injuries. The monarch emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic groups residing in the state, reminding residents to view each other as brothers and sisters.

“

The peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups in the land is of paramount concern to me.

The clash, which began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, reportedly stemmed from an argument over a Point-of-Sale transaction that failed due to network issues. Eyewitnesses described how a tricycle rider, after collecting money for a withdrawal, got into a dispute with the POS operator when the transaction did not confirm. The situation escalated when the rider was allegedly stabbed, leading to his death and subsequent reprisal violence involving wheelbarrow pushers and youths.

“

Regardless of where we come from, we should continue to see ourselves as brothers and sisters.

Traders and operators at the Ojoo Motor Park hastily closed their businesses as tension gripped the area. The Olubadan acknowledged that minor disagreements can occur but stressed the need for restraint, especially given the current security situation in the country. He also commended the swift response of security agencies in addressing the crisis.

“

The transaction became contentious after a network failure prevented confirmation of payment despite the customer having already collected the money.