Four Killed in Ondo, Federal Capital Territory Crises

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

Two persons were on Sunday shot dead  with houses  burnt as fresh crisis  erupted between two warring parts of Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko North-east Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Similarly, an inter-ethnic clashes at Gwarimpa Estate, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  yesterday left at least two people dead and several persons injured.

THISDAY gathered that  gunshots were fired sporadically into the air I Ikare-Akoko, which forced many shop owners and market women to  hurriedly close  their shops while commercial activities were grounded.

Some residents who spoke under the condition of anonymity lamented that security agents were not enough to douse the tension, advising the state government to immediately declare a curfew in the town and find a lasting solution to incessant and senseless conflict in the town.

The cause of the crisis was unknown as at the time of filing this report.

The state government had recently set up a panel to look into communal and religious issues causing unrest in the town but the committee is yet to submit its report.

In the same vein, a 50-year-old farmer, Mr Olaoluwa Olorunfemi has been killed at Ifeloduro camp forest reserve in Ala area of Akure by unknown killers.

It was learnt that Olorunfemi  was macheted to death by his killers numbering about four and  bolted with his phone and that of others met in the farm.

Spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami Omisanya, who confirmed the killing via a press statement, said the police and family members of the deceased have visited the scene of the incident.

According to her, “the deceased’s corpse has been evacuated from the scene. The command has launched an investigation into the matter”.

Meanwhile, an inter-ethnic clashes at Gwarimpa Estate yesterday left at least two people dead and several persons injured.

The violence began on Saturday evening in one of Gwarimpa’s shanties before spreading to 3rd Avenue in the territory s biggest estate.

 The fighting groups consisting Hausa and Gbagyi youths freely resorted to the use of   different weapons while residents and traders in the area scampered for safety. Many shops were looted while some traders were badly injured.

  It was gathered that the clashes followed the alleged discovery that a native was an informant, revealing information of alleged illicit drug activities to security operatives.

Upon discovery, members of the affected groups were said to have attacked the informant, thereby escalating the situation.

The     FCT Police Command confirmed the incident yesterday in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh, on behalf of the FCT Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Ahmed Musa .

She said one person was arrested while the Acting Commissioner of Police, FCT Command has met with the traditional rulers to discuss collaborative policing to ease the tension.

She said the arrested suspect was currently assisting the Police in their investigations to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the affray.

“Folowing mild tension along 3rd Avenue at the Gwarinpa axis of the Federal Capital Territory due to a squabble between some Hausa and Gbagyi youths on Saturday 22nd  April, 2023, and the subsequent mobilization and deployment of operatives from the FCT Police Command to the affected areas to douse the tension and effect necessary arrests, the Ag. Commissioner of Police for the FCT, DCP Ahmed Musa has met with traditional rulers of both the Hausa and Gbagyi Communities in Gwarinpa at his office in the Command Headquarters to broker peace between both groups, deliberate on possible collaborations necessary to keep the youths in check and oust troubleshooters in the communities,” FCT Police Command said.

  The statement added that the acting CP in charge of the FCT has charged the traditional rulers to consistently encourage the youths to imbibe peace and pursue grievances through the legally approved channels rather than taking laws into their hands. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu has called for calm amidst the violent clash that has left many injured in Gwarimpa District of the nation’s capital Abuja.

In a statement yesterday by his Senior  Special Assistant media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki, the AMAC chairman appealed to all residents of the district to remain calm and law abiding.

He gave the assurance that security agencies were already looking into the situation and that peace would be fully restored.

He warned persons against taking the law into their hands and perpetrating any acts of violence.

The chairman called on traditional and religious leaders to also intervene and ensure there was peace within the area.

“The government therefore wishes to categorically warn citizens against mob action. No one will be allowed to conduct themselves in an arbitrary manner. Impunity has no place in this Council.

“There are designated agencies vested with the duty of law enforcement, and citizens cannot usurp their roles; rather it is the duty of all citizens to report infractions of the law and help to prevent or detect crime. There can be no recourse to self-help,” AMAC Chairman warned.