The Oyo State Police Command has described as untrue and mischievous the alleged fight between the Hausa and Yoruba traders at Sasa market (Ibadan) in Akinyele Local Government Area.
The police in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, and made available to Saturday Tribune, on Friday, said that contrary to the rumour making the rounds, there was a mild conflict between some social miscreants who penetrated the market in the early hours of the day.
The statement dated August 2, 2019 said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ojoo said that there was tension in the market as a result of a fight that broke out between some social dissidents who wanted to seize the opportunity to steal from the traders.
It read in parts: “In the early hours of Friday, the DPO of Ojoo reported (that there were) tension and mild conflict between social miscreants outside Sasa market with a view to causing chaos and loot from the market men and women. Consequently, the police moved in to restore order and normalcy.”
It lamented that some fourth columnists had since given the incident ethnic colouration in order to misguide members of the public.
According to the statement, the rumour mill reported that there was a clash between the Hausas and the Yorubas in the market. However, investigation by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Shina Olukolu, revealed that “it was discovered that the conflict was between some scrap workers and a social miscreant who was earlier prevented from messing up the environment two days ago.”
It was gathered that fight broke out when the alleged miscreant mobilised his gang to attack the scrap workers in the market. Three people were reportedly arrested at the scene of the fight on Thursday and charged to court.
Nine persons were said to have been injured in the chaos that followed on Friday while six suspects were arrested for breach of public peace.
“The Commissioner of Police warn mischief makers, social miscreants and other criminally minded individuals who are bent on causing chaos to rethink before the arms of the law catches up with them,” the statement said.