Communal clash on Wednesday morning broke out between the people of Offa in Offa Local Government Area and the people of Ijagbo in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
One person was reportedly killed and about 21 others, including two Mobile Policemen, injured during the communal clash yesterday. The clash was said to have for lasted several hours, exchange of gunfire between local hunters from both communities made people scamper for safety as most of the villagers deserted their homes.
At the end of the clash, Offa Central Hotel was destroyed, while some properties were burnt.
It was gathered that the crisis was as a result of claims to Oyun Baptist High School in Ijagbo by the people of Offa, while another source claimed that there was a latest Court of Appeal judgement on a large space of land around Community secondary school around the border area in favour of Offa community which sparked off angry reaction by the people of Ijagbo.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the development, said, “At about 0800hrs, report reached the Area Commander Offa, indicated that a land dispute between Ijagbo and Offa communities was getting out of hands.
Hence, a peace meeting was organized by Chairman Oyun Local Government Area, Mr. Omokanye, having the Area Commander and other stakeholders in attendance.
Violence, however, erupted while the meeting was still in progress, and sounds of gun fire rented the air. The hoodlums shot at the security agents deployed to maintain peace, in the process two policemen and a Naval rating were injured, and rushed to the hospital for treatment.
No civilian casualty recorded, more policemen have been drafted to the crisis area to maintain peace, some suspects have been arrested and are helping the police in investigation.
However, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has vowed to deal decisively with the perpetrators of the communal clash no matter how highly placed, describing the development as unwarranted and avoidable.
