Two Fear Dead During Carnival In Ibadan

By Oluseye Ojo, The Sun

Two persons were yes­terday feared dead in Agbokojo, Amunigun and Agbaje areas of Ibadan, Oyo State following a bloody clash that broke out during a youth carnival.

Agbokojo and Amunigun are in Ibadan South West Lo­cal Government Area while Agbaje is in Ibadan North West Local Government Area. More than 20 shops were reportedly destroyed and looted at Agbaje Market.

The carnival was said to have begun at about 11pm on Friday at Agbokojo and was going on smoothly until a rival youth group, numbering 80, reportedly stormed the venue with dangerous weapons. The fight that ensued was said to have lasted for one hour and spread to Agbaje Market.

When contacted, the Po­lice Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Oyo State Com­mand, Mr. Adekunle Ajise­butu, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), could not con­firm the incident as at press time, saying there had not been an official report of the incident.

He promised to get back to Sunday Sun as soon as he got details of the incident.

According to eyewitnesses, the fighters shot sporadically into the air and people at the carnival were very alarmed. The violence was allegedly caused by two rival groups with different political inter­ests.

A landlord in Agbaje dis­closed: “Violence has become a common occurence in Ag­baje area whenever election is fast approaching and these hoodlums are known but they seem to be above the law .

“On Saturday about 10:30, these hoodlums, some of whom wore masks, number­ing about 80 from their base in Foko fully armed, stormed Agbaje streets.

They ransacked and looted shops and also vandalised the shops. “If the police can establish their presence here like they did at Idi-Arere and Popoyemoja, I believe peace will be restored.”

A resident, who simply identified himself as Demola, told newsmen that a politi­cian had organised a political rally in the area some weeks ago, adding that some youths from Foko, who were believed to have sympathy for another political party also attended the rally.

As gathered, the politi­cian’s supporters attacked the youths that came to their rally and they sustained varying degrees of injury. “With what happened last night, I believe this is a retaliation. Two boys were killed, while some were also injured and they have been taken to an undisclosed hospital by the police”

In a telephone chat with Sunday Sun, the chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government Area, Mr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, who visited the scene of the incident yesterday, sympathised with the be­reaved families and those who lost their property and wares to the hoodlums.

Credit: Sunday Sun