Shasha violence: 3 killed; houses, cars set on fire as Hausa, Yoruba traders clash in Oyo

At least three people were, according to witnesses, killed during two days of violence in Shasha, a community in Akinyele local government area of Oyo State.

The crisis started on Thursday evening following an argument between a Hausa man and a pregnant woman, witnesses say.

A shoe mender (or cobbler) who tried to intervene in the argument was, according to witnesses, hit with a charm and he later died on Friday morning while receiving treatment.

Following cobbler’s death, youths took to the streets of Shasha on Friday morning, unleashing a mayhem that, according to witnesses, claimed two more lives.

The rampaging youths burned down houses, cars and other vehicles, it was reported.

Oyo police spokesperson Olugbenga Fadeyi, however, said that only one person was killed.

“It was a clash between two social miscreants,” Fadeyi said.

“One of them, Adeola Sakirundeen, was hit by the other. He died while receiving treatment in a hospital.’’

He said the commissioner of police and the special adviser on security to the governor and other members of the police tactical team had visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

He added that police officers were deployed to the area to maintain order.