At least three people were killed and 10 houses destroyed by armed youths who invaded Born Photo, Isale Osi, Idi Arere and Popoyemoja in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The youth who operated freely for about two hours before policemen arrived at the scenes, also burnt and or vandalised about 200 shops, several vehicles and a tricycle.
Eyewitnesses said the thugs partly burnt a petrol station at Popoyemoja junction.
A resident of the area said, “Youths hired by politicians released several shots at Born Photo junction. This is a fall-out of Friday’s violence at the APC rally. This may not be over soon because there could be reprisal. Government must intervene quickly.”
Punch gathered that the mayhem started at 9am at Born Photo before it spread to Isale Osi, Idi Arere, etc.
Residents linked the violence to last Friday’s attack in which a policeman was shot dead at a rally by the All Progressives Congress.
Mr. Okunola Asimiyu, whose family house on SW9/263 was burnt on Sunday, wondered why his house was a target. He said, “I am not a politician. My father built this house many decades ago. The fight in Oke-Ado three days ago may have led to today’s (Sunday) attack on our community. I have no friends among the politicians. I was in the building when the thugs set it on fire . I tried to put off the fire but when I realised that it was spreading, I had to escape.”
About five shops in the house were vandalised. Continue after the cut...
Folake Oladipo, who operated one of the shops, said she lost over N1m.
She added, “I received a call this(Sunday) morning that my shop was burning. I rushed there but I saw people with guns shooting and burning houses. They burnt my refrigerators, generators and looted everything in the shop. I am devastated.”
Also destroyed in the building was a football viewing centre. Its operator, Adepoju Owolabi, said football fans were lucky to have escaped.
At Popoyemoja junction, a BP petrol station was vandalised and partly burnt. Policemen at the scene said calamity would have happened if the fire had reached the fuel dump.
The Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan South-West Council Area, Taoreed Adeleke, blamed the opposition for the attack. Adeleke said:
“Clearly, this is the work of the opposition. They want to scare people during elections and place the blame on the government of the day. We appeal that people should return to their homes. People are not ready to talk; they are scared of mentioning the perpetrators for fear of being attacked.
“I will also blame hoodlums or area boys that are bent on disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state for the attack. We heard that the people would come up before the election to make the state ungovernable.
“It started on Friday in Oke Ado and its spreading now. I was called early this (Sunday) morning that the problem had started again so I mobilised security men to stop them.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Police Command, Olabisi Ilobanefor, said the police had yet to make any arrest.
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