•Five injured in carnival violence
A mosque and six shops have been razed in Ogbese community, Akure North local government area.
The perpetrators were linked to Tuesday’s fight between a Fulani youth and a Hausa which resulted in the death of one of them.
Witnesses said the matter was resolved after a little fracas and the body was released for burial.
But at midnight, the mosque and the six shops belonging to the Hausa were set ablaze.
According to a source, “The matter was between the Hausa and Fulani. They stabbed each other and one died.”
Another source said it was a clash between a Fulani man living in the forest and a Hausa man in the community over stolen cannabis sativa.
Police spokesman, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed that eight shops were razed but said there was “no clash between Hausa and Fulani people in Ogbese”.
A New Year Day’s carnival staged by youths of Ikare Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, turned bloody as youths loyal to the two traditional rulers in the town clashed.
The division in Ikare Akoko community was occasioned by the rivalry between Oba Adeleke Adegbite-Adedoyin II, the Owa-Ale of Iyometa, Ikare and Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Saliu Momoh.
Witnesses said shootings that began on Tuesday evening at the carnival continued yesterday morning.
It was learnt that traders have closed their shops and fled for safety.
Withnesses said it was the use of Okoja area for the carnival that sparked the recent crisis.
It was gathered that youths from the Olukare area prevented some Owa Ale youths from accessing the Okoja area for celebration and the Owa Ale youth retaliated by stopping the carnival.
According to a source,, “You know Ikare is divided and Okoja is like a centre between the two. The Owa Ale people wanted to use the place but Olukare youths stopped them.
“When the Olukare wanted to use the place for the carnival on Tuesday, the Owa Ale people stopped them and there was crisis. The shooting was so much that the town became deserted.
“This morning (Wednesday) the youths mobilised for another attack and the shootings continue. Many shops have been closed down but the police have intervened.”
It was gathered that nobody was killed in the crisis but about five persons were injured.
Police spokesman, Funmilayo Odunlami, said the police have been able to calm the situation and returned normalcy to the area.