The Kwara State Police Command yesterday confirmed the death of five persons in Tuesday’s clash between Share and Tsaragi communities of Ifelodun and Edu local governments.
Spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi added that five persons were arrested in connection with the clash.
The victims, Aliyu Issah, Muhmini, Alhaji Saba, Madu Issa and Kadiri, are said to be Nupe of Tssaragi, who reside in Obadare, a Share community.
It was gathered that prior to the attack, the Nupe wrote an appeal to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, asking for his intervention.
They claimed they ran away from their settlement to their ancestral home in the wake of the earlier clash.
The letter, signed by Issa Aliyu and Jiya Aliyu, on behalf of the Nupe community in Obadare, pledged the people’s readiness to abide by the conditions of their Share hosts and asked to be allowed to return and harvest their crops.
It was alleged that the Share acceded to the request, which prompted the Nupe to return to Obadare but they were attacked soon after by people suspected to be from Share.
But a source in Share refuted the claim, saying the Tuesday attack was between the Fulani and Tsaragi.
The source, who confirmed that there was no Share indigene among the victims, said his people were innocent of the attack.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has condemned the incident, describing it as unfortunate and unacceptable, saying no one should take the law into his hands.
The government imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the communities.