Tension gripped the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Wednesday following the alleged stabbing to death of a Yoruba tricycle mechanic by a suspected Hausa scrap collector.
The incident, which occurred overnight, reportedly sparked anger among residents and youths in the area. Eyewitnesses said an argument ensued between the victim and some scrap collectors, during which one of the suspects allegedly brought out a weapon from a sack and stabbed the mechanic.
In the aftermath, aggrieved youths took to the streets, setting bonfires and confronting members of the Hausa community. Some properties were also reportedly vandalized as the situation threatened to degenerate into an ethnic confrontation.
To forestall further breakdown of law and order, security operatives including the police were quickly deployed to Ojoo and adjoining areas.
The Oyo State Police Command urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals, assuring that a thorough investigation had commenced to apprehend the culprits.
“We call on the public to remain peaceful and provide useful information that will aid our investigation. Those responsible will be brought to book,” a police source said.
The unrest also took a toll on traffic. The busy Iwo Road–Ojoo Expressway was disrupted for hours as vehicles, including trailers and commercial buses, were stranded in heavy gridlock. Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes.
Community leaders from both Yoruba and Hausa groups have since waded in, appealing for calm and dialogue to prevent further escalation.
The incident has reignited calls for better regulation of scrap collection activities and improved community policing in border areas of the city.
