Two killed in Kwara communal clash

Two people have been reportedly killed in a communal clash among indigenes of Odo-Owa and Ilofa communities in Oke Ero local government area of Kwara State on Wednesday.

Tribune Online gathered that the clash originated from disagreement over who had the authority to sell harvested yams from the farm of the traditional rulers of the two neighbouring communities before one another.

It was also gathered that the clash was the second in two years between the two border communities.

Tribune Online gathered that one of the traditional rulers had felt offended that his colleague was already at the market selling his own harvested yams without deferring to his own seniority.

The two communities, it was gathered, had a common market located to serve as border between them.

It was reported that one of the victims of the attack was a young graduate who had escorted his wife to the market, just as several houses were also said to have been razed with many residents fleeing the area into neighbouring communities.

A source in the area, who explained the development to the Tribune Online said that:

“The market itself was built as a buffer zone following series of clashes between the two communities. They have been at loggerheads over seniority between the two of them and a recent grading of one of the traditional rulers to a first class status was said to have also angered indigenes of the other community.

“The tradition, according to those familiar with the two communities, was that on any market day, the traditional ruler from one of the communities would have to first sell yams from his farm, under the supervision of the market leader, before any other person would display his or her own yams for sale.

“That was what happened yesterday. One of the Obas (traditional rulers) was at the market selling his yams when his colleague got wind of it and walked straight to the market and challenged him and that was what led to the crisis”, a source in the area said.

“As I am talking to you, they are still shooting and burning houses”, a source in one of the communities told newsmen on phone, lamenting that the recurring crisis between the two communities must be properly addressed by government.

A community leader in the local government who sought anonymity, lamented on the extent of the crisis, saying that almost all the houses in one of the communities had been razed. “It is as if the other side was well prepared for this”, the community leader said.

Spokesman for the state police command, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the development but said the command was yet to ascertain the level of casualties. He however explained that security operatives had been deployed to the communities to keep the peace.