Nigerians on social media are calling for an end to killings and civil disturbances, following reports of another inter-ethnic violence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The Ibadan crisis began on Thursday when a cart pusher stabbed a cobbler with a knife, following a misunderstanding between the two.
Fight broke out between cart pushers and cobblers after the victim was confirmed dead in a hospital on Friday morning, as the cobblers vowed to avenge the death of their colleague.
Shops and houses were burnt in the ensuing disturbance which degenerated into an inter-ethnic clash with reports of hoodlums attacking themselves along ethnic lines.
According to reports, at least three persons were feared dead and seven trucks burnt in the clashes.
Governor Seyi Makinde ordered the closure of the market and declared a 6 p.m. to 7 a.m curfew in the area.
“His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area.
“The governor has also approved the imposition of (a) curfew on Shasha. It will run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.
“Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law,” the statement issued by his spokesperson read.
#StopKillingNortherners
The latest inter-ethnic violence drew reactions from Nigerians on social media.
This made the hashtag, #StopKillingNortherners, trend on Twitter with over 90,000 tweets as of Sunday morning.
Most of the tweets were from people preaching peace among the Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups.
Some others also called on the authorities to be proactive, warning that the incident in Oyo can ignite violence in other parts of the country.
@Waspapping: Yoruba people need to call their people in Oyo state to order. Ethnic cleansing of Hausa people in that state does no one good. Call them to order before it escalates further #StopKillingNortherners
@al_shekarau: The moment Northerners start retaliating about the ongoing killings, burning of properties and chasing Hausas peoples from their houses that Yorubas are currently doing in Oyo state Nigeria will be destroyed, but they don’t want that, they’ve chosen peace #StopKillingNortherners
@Mareeyarhh: Don’t say you gonna retaliate and destroy Yorubas property cus of what happened in Oyo state ,the northerners greatest virtue is humility and humanity, bad governance affects us all #EndSARS and pls #StopKillingNortherners
