Tension engulfed the Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday following violent clashes involving groups of residents, prompting the deployment of security operatives to restore order.
Reports indicated that the disturbance involved individuals believed to be from the Yoruba and Hausa communities, although security authorities had yet to officially confirm the identities of those involved or the circumstances surrounding the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Operatives of Operation Burst, Oyo State’s joint security task force, were deployed to the affected area to prevent a further breakdown of law and order and ensure the safety of residents.
Witnesses said the heavy security presence was aimed at containing the unrest and preventing it from spreading to neighbouring communities.
Residents were advised to remain calm, avoid the troubled areas and rely only on verified information from security agencies as efforts continued to bring the situation under control.
There were also reports that a scavengers’ collection centre, popularly known as “Bolla,” was set ablaze during the disturbance.
However, the cause of the fire and those responsible for it had not been independently confirmed.
As of press time, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the clashes, while investigations into the incident were expected to determine the cause of the unrest and the extent of damage recorded.