At least four people were reportedly killed and several others injured after violent clashes broke out between wheelbarrow pushers and residents in Ojoo, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, following the alleged killing of a commercial tricycle rider.
The unrest, which began on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, forced traders to shut down businesses around the busy Ojoo Terminal Bus Station, while security operatives were deployed to restore order.
According to eyewitnesses, the violence was triggered by an argument involving a Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator, a commercial tricycle rider and some wheelbarrow pushers over a failed financial transaction caused by network issues. Residents alleged that although the rider left his tricycle, keys and phone as security while the transaction was being resolved, he was allegedly assaulted and stabbed during the altercation.
The injured tricycle rider was rushed to a nearby hospital but reportedly died on Wednesday. News of his death sparked outrage among fellow tricycle operators, relatives and sympathisers, leading to a confrontation that escalated into widespread violence.
Some eyewitnesses also alleged that gunshots were fired during the clash, claiming another victim was killed while several others sustained injuries. One resident alleged that an unidentified armed man carrying a rifle appeared at the scene, though the identity of the individual and the circumstances surrounding the shooting had not been independently verified.
Reacting to the crisis, the Oyo State Government appealed for calm and assured residents that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted. Speaking during an assessment visit on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal described the unrest as the work of criminal elements rather than an ethnic conflict.
“Criminals are simply criminals, and criminality has no tribal identity,” Lawal said. “Our priority is to restore peace and ensure that everyone responsible is brought to justice.”
He said the government had commenced investigations to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the violence, stressing that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law regardless of ethnicity.
Lawal also urged residents, particularly youths, to vacate the affected area and allow security agencies to carry out their operations without interference, assuring the public that the state remained committed to preserving its reputation for peaceful coexistence.
Meanwhile, some community youths have called for the relocation of the wheelbarrow pushers from the Ojoo area, alleging that criminal activities linked to some members of the group have become a recurring security concern. The demand comes as authorities continue efforts to restore normalcy and prevent further violence.
