The Oyo State Government has ordered the removal of all illegal roadside structures and shanties in the Ojoo area of Akinyele Local Government Area, giving occupants seven days to vacate the affected locations.
The directive was issued following a peace meeting convened by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal, with leaders of the Hausa and Yoruba communities, alongside security agencies, in response to the violent clash that rocked the community.
The meeting, held to restore calm and prevent a recurrence of the violence, focused on strengthening peaceful coexistence among residents and addressing security concerns arising from the incident.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of the Hausa Community in Ojoo, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, dismissed reports suggesting that the clash was driven by ethnic rivalry. He maintained that the unfortunate incident should not be interpreted as a conflict between the Hausa and Yoruba communities, urging residents to avoid actions capable of escalating tensions.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Yoruba Community at Sabo, Ojoo, Chief Solagbade Azeez, said both communities had resolved to embrace peace and work together in the interest of the area. He assured residents that community leaders would continue to cooperate with the government and security agencies to maintain law and order.
The state government expressed confidence that the removal of illegal structures would improve security, restore order and enhance environmental sanitation within the area.
The directive comes a day after a violent clash in Ojoo left one person feared dead and several others injured, prompting swift intervention by the state government and security agencies to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
