By Isiaka Wakili
Interior minister Abdulrahman Dambazzau says the recent violence in Ile-Ife, Osun State, had nothing to do with ethnicity.
Interior Minister declared this Friday after visiting the scene of the incident and meeting with the leaderships of the two communities involved in the clash.
He told State House correspondents his findings showed that the violence was perpetrated by “a bunch of people who decided to constitute themselves nuisance to carry out this dastardly act.”
“We went straight to the community where this crisis occurred, saw the extent of damage, met the leadership of the community and discussed with them.
“It’s very clear that this issue is not about crisis between Hausa community and Yoruba community in Ife. The Hausa community has been living in Ife close to 200 years. They’ve never experienced this kind of thing until now.
“Quite a number of people escaped from the community. So, we made them understand that they should not look at it from the point of ethnicity and they all agreed. We also emphasised the need to remain in peace and the issue of revenge, reprisal shouldn’t come to anybody’s mind because the government is handling the situation and those who are found to be involved and deliberately attacked and took people’s lives and destroyed properties will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
“We made them understand that the government is up and doing, the government is taking up its responsibility in ensuring that it protects lives and properties because in accordance with chapter two of the constitution, the purpose of government is protection of lives and properties. Then, I moved to Ibadan the same day and met with all the leaderships of Hausa community in the South West. We discussed all the issues and that they discuss with their people to peacefully co-exist.”
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