For many indigenes of Ibese, a sleepy town in Egbado north local government area of Ogun State, June 25, would forever, remain evergreen in their mind. That was the day crisis broke out between the Yoruba and their Hausa brothers.
To many indigenes of the town, the underlying cause of the crisis that engulfed the town last week has been there for some time. It was only waiting for a spark to set off the conflagration. And the spark came from an unexpected quarters, a woman of easy virtue.
By the time the dust raised by the crisis settled, three persons lay dead while properties worth several billions of naira were damaged. The town is now under siege of sort as police and other security agents kept watch for 24 hours.
The town came to limelight due to the abundance of natural resources in its belly. It has a large deposit of limestone, a key ingredient used in the manufacturing of cement.
Ibese in spite of its large deposit of limestone which made it a darling for many investors in the cement business world is also known for its good arable land which is suitable for agriculture.
The inflow of industrialists into the town and the sudden improvement in the fortunes of the town and its people also made many job seekers to continue to troop into the town looking for job and greener pastures with many of them securing permanent jobs while some works as casual workers.
Land became an expensive commodity in the town as many indigenes increase the price of land in the area. Many of the indigenes whose lands were acquired to build factories also felt that they deserve to be adequately compensated and are always asking for more.
Though some of the investors paid fortunes to acquire those lands but the community were not satisfied as many of the land owners were shouting foul play on the part of their negotiators thereby turning themselves to Oliver Twist. The need to get more money from some of the investors as well as the alleged none staffing of some of the workers, many of whom were indigenes are the underlying causes of the crisis.
The grumblings had been on in the town until it escalated to a full-scale crisis last week between the Hausas and the Yoruba residents of the town.
The immediate cause of the crisis however, was due to the activities of Tofunmi, (surname withheld), one of the regular prostitutes at Ibese. Tofunmi, apart from being a beautiful damsel, many said also know how to satisfy her customer and her price was moderate.
Findings by LEADERSHIP shows that Tofunmi had been a known face in the town for more than two years and that one of her regular customers was a man known simply as Kehinde.
But events of last week Wednesday later turned sour when Tofunmi after satisfying one of the Hausa men went to keep another date with Kehinde at around 10pm in the evening, which the Hausa man later got to know about. He was told that a Yoruba man had snatched his lover.
Kehinde was having a nice time with Tofunmi at about 1.00am when the door of his room was broken into and he came face to face with his assailants who killed him instantly. The incident angered many Yoruba speaking locals who saw the death of Kehinde as an affront thereby attacking other Hausas in the town. By the time the smoke cleared, no fewer than three people were killed while 25 trucks, three cars, four houses and three motorcycles were burnt to ashes.
When LEADERSHIP visited the scene, the Ogun State police command had beefed up security in the town and the neighbouring villages.
?Speaking with LEADERSHIP at the scene of the incident, the Bale of Ijoko, the community that houses the trailer park, Alhaji Sikirulahi Akinsola confirmed that the mayhem was principally caused by the misunderstanding between the patrons of the commercial sex workers.
Akinsola, who said the Hausas were determined and took the security officers by surprise when they stormed the market with dangerous weapons. He further stated that they looted all the shops in the market after setting over 25 trailer trucks ablaze. Akinsola, who claimed that he was the chairman of the market task force, also stated that there were adequate security provisions for the market prior to the attack.
As at the time LEADERSHIP visited the troubled town, a contingent of anti-riot policemen were observed stationed at strategic locations around the trailer park, while an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was also stationed at the main entrance to the Dangote Cement factory in Ibese. The entire market which hitherto used to be a beehive of activities has however, been deserted despite the heavy presence of security officers who have fortified the community.
The state commissioner of police, Okoye Ikhemefuna has already visited the place where he was said to have held meetings with all the youths and community leaders which included the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Adegbenle.
The command also confirmed the arrest of six persons in connection with the mayhem. Also, Akinsola urged the state government to provide more security in the community as the incident will be the second in two months.
Reacting, the Ogun State government warned that it would not condone acts of lawlessness and indiscipline that are inimical to its economic development blueprint. The government also called on host communities across the state to always render assistance to investors, eschew violence, and where and when necessary, they should ventilate their grievances through proper channels.
The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun later held a peace meeting between the management of Dangote Cement and youths of Ibese town.
Represented by the secretary to the state government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Governor Amosun stressed the need for peaceful co-existence between investors and members of their host communities, pointing out? that no business can thrive in an atmosphere of war.
“We should encourage and cooperate with investors. We cannot make progress if for any reason we take laws into our hands. In any case, our administration will not tolerate that. Ogun State has a heritage,
we are known for commerce and not violence. And please it should not and must not start now,” the Governor said.
Governor Amosun also enjoined traditional rulers and youths in the area to ensure peace in the community, warning that they would be held responsible in case of further breakdown of law and order.
Speaking earlier, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle who led members of the Yewa Traditional Council to the meeting described the incident as unfortunate and stated the resolve of the traditional rulers to work towards avoiding a recurrence.
He charged the traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the need for peace and tranquility in the area.
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