The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said that the government will institute a committee to look into the crisis which occurred among some people in Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state last Friday.
The PUNCH reports that four unidentified corpses were recovered by the police after the clash that occurred between Fulani traders and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress at Kaara market, Ajase-Ipo, last Friday.
However, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, Monday night, Governor Abdulrazaq said that there was no clash between the people of Ajase-Ipo and the Fulani or Bororo community.
He said the Friday incident in Kara (Ajase-Ipo) involved some cattle traders in Kara and members of a group who were travelling through the area from a neighbouring state.
The statement said, “The governor had gone to the town on Saturday to inspect the Kara market and visited the palace of the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, where he met with different community leaders and commiserated with those affected.
“He urged citizens to avoid resorting to violence for whatever reasons.
“There is really no reason to continue to point fingers. What happened was regrettable and we sincerely commiserate with families who lost their loved ones and properties. The violence was needless. We also, in the name of God, do not need a cycle of violence; I appeal to everyone to let go and avoid further violence,” the governor said in the statement.
“Going forward, a government committee will look into how to prevent such crisis in the future, including creating a setback for markets, like Kara in Ajase-Ipo, which are so close to the highway. Again, I appeal to all persons involved to shun blame games and anything that may trigger violence.
“AbdulRazaq commended the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu and the security agencies for acting swiftly to curb escalation of the crisis”, the statement said.
