“7 DAYS TO PACK OUT”: OYSG ORDERS CLEAR-OUT OF ILLEGAL OJOO SETTLEMENTS, CALLS VIOLENCE “CRIMINAL,
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE Oyo State Government has issued a 7-day ultimatum for the removal of illegal settlements and shanties in Ojoo, Akinyele LGA, insisting the recent deadly violence is a criminal matter and not an ethnic conflict.
The order followed a peace meeting with community leaders as both Hausa and Yoruba groups backed government’s intervention to restore calm.
Hausa, Yoruba leaders rally behind peace move after clash claims
Bottom Line:
OYSG is treating the Ojoo crisis as a security issue. Illegal structures linked to the violence must go in 7 days, and both Hausa and Yoruba leaders say they support the peace move.
The Key Issues, In Full Quotations:
1. The Government Directive
“The Oyo State Government has ordered the removal of illegal settlements and shanties allegedly linked to criminal activities in Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government Area, within seven days, following the recent deadly violence in the area.”
2. How The Decision Was Reached
“The directive was disclosed on Thursday by the Chairman of the Hausa Community in Ojoo, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, after a peace meeting convened by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal, with Hausa and Yoruba community leaders, security agencies and the Chairman of Akinyele Local Government.”
3. What Sparked The Crisis
“The meeting followed the violent clash between suspected scavengers and a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator, which reportedly claimed four lives and left several others injured.”
4. Security Concerns Raised
“Speaking after the meeting, Musa said the state government expressed concern over the security situation and directed that all shanties and structures associated with those allegedly responsible for the crisis be removed within seven days.”
5. Land Verification & Enforcement
“According to him, the Deputy Governor also directed the Chairman of Akinyele Local Government to ensure compliance with the order, while individuals laying claim to any land in the affected area were asked to present valid ownership documents.”
6. Deputy Governor’s Warning
“The Deputy Governor expressed the government’s displeasure over what happened in Ojoo. He directed that all those places and the people involved should be removed within seven days. Anyone claiming ownership of the land should come forward with documents to prove it,” Musa said.”
He stressed that the incident should not be viewed through an ethnic lens, insisting that the individuals involved were criminals and not representatives of either the Hausa or Yoruba communities.
“The people involved are not indigenous residents of Ojoo. Some of them came from other places. Hausa and Yoruba people have continued to live peacefully together, and we want that peace to continue,” he stated.
Musa disclosed that the Hausa community had established mechanisms for resolving disputes through recognised community leaders and had previously submitted a memorandum to the state government to promote peaceful coexistence.
“We have a union and a lawyer. We signed a memorandum that whenever any issue involving Hausa people arises, it should be reported to Hausa leaders, while matters involving Yoruba people should be taken to Yoruba leaders. We have submitted the document to the government,” he added.
He also cautioned against the tendency of some individuals to mobilise youths before establishing the facts surrounding security incidents, saying such actions often worsen tensions.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Yoruba Community in Sabo, Ojoo, Chief Solagbade Azeez, said both Hausa and Yoruba leaders had unanimously agreed to support the government’s measures aimed at restoring lasting peace.
He noted that the two communities were united in their resolve to ensure that illegal settlements allegedly harbouring criminal elements were dismantled.
“We all met with the Deputy Governor and agreed with the government’s position. Both Hausa and Yoruba leaders are ready to cooperate fully to ensure peace returns to the area,” Azeez said.
The Yoruba community leader specifically called for the removal of shanties allegedly occupied by scavengers, whom he accused of posing security threats to residents.
“All we want is for those people and their shanties to be removed from that location. We were assured that this would be done, and that is our expectation,” he said.
He further alleged that some occupants of the settlements were armed, describing the situation as a major security concern for residents.
The latest directive followed the violent clash in Ojoo, which prompted the deployment of security personnel and renewed appeals for calm by the state government and community leaders.
Earlier, Deputy Governor Lawal described the incident as a criminal matter rather than an ethnic conflict, assuring residents that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted irrespective of ethnic background
He also urged members of the public to allow security agencies to conclude their investigations, reiterating the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives, property and peaceful coexistence across Oyo State
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