Ile-Ife now calm, says Aregbesola

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun has assured the Hausa Community in the state of adequate protection. He spoke in Ile-Ife at the palace of Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi during a visit Thursday.

Aregbesola said normalcy has returned to the town, after the clash between Yoruba and Hausa residents.

He called on all residents to go about their lawful duties without fear of intimidation as security has been beefed up.

Aregbesola condemned the masterminds of the fracas. He said they would face the full wrath of the law, after being arrested.

He said his administration will ensure that miscreants are no longer allowed to disrupt the peace of the state.

“We will not allow miscreants in our state.We will fish them out, especially the perpetrators of the fracas at Ife. We are going to arrest them from their hiding place and prosecute them.

“I appeal to communities in our dear state to remain calm and go about their lawful activities.

“Everything is under control by the government and I promise you that it will never happen gain”, he said.

Aregbesola visited the troubled area of the town.

He was received by the Seriki Hausa, Alhaji Mohammed Madagali. Both inspected the damage left by the rioters.

He later met Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in his palace to discuss how to bring succour to the affected community.

The Ooni of Ife described members of the Hausa Community in Ile-Ife as co-owners of the town, with whom he has enjoyed tremendous loyalty in the last 14months of his reign.

“That is why I did not leave any stone unturned to bring the avoidable ugly situation to normalcy by acting promptly upon receiving a report of an altercation between a Yoruba woman and a Hausa man on Tuesday evening.

” I immediately sent some chiefs to address the situation, which was amicably resolved. And we all thought it was over until we woke up the following morning (Wednesday) to hear that they had started attacking one another.

” I quickly informed the security agencies, who responded very swiftly, ” Ooni said.

The monarch also praised the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola for his efforts towards ending the crisis.

“Thank God for the normalcy.The governor has been so proactive and the security agents have been on top of the situation.

“I got a tip-off that some of our Hausa brothers were being held in captivity. We rushed to trace them to where they were being held.

“We were able to rescue all of them, numbering over a thousand and got them handed over to their Seriki Hausa, ” he said.

The monarch urged all residents of the state to embrace each as brothers for peaceful coexistence.

“My people, we are working to ensure that things don’t get out of hand. We must allow peace to reign in Ile-Ife and respect one another.

“Yorubaland is a place of love, we show love to every visitor in our land and our kinsmen from other parts of the country.

“Let us always maintain peace and harmony with them here too,” he pleaded.

The Seriki Hausa, Alhaji Mohammed Madagali, thanked the state governor, Ooni Ogunwusi, community leaders and the security agencies for their efforts in curtailing the crisis.

Madagali lamented the death of his people, saying it was a painful and avoidable incident.