Ibadan, Oyo State – Tension engulfed the Ojoo area of Ibadan on Wednesday after a violent clash broke out between Yoruba youths and Hausa residents following the alleged killing of a local tricycle mechanic.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the violence was triggered by the overnight death of the mechanic, who was reportedly stabbed during an altercation involving suspected Hausa scrap collectors, popularly known as scavengers.

Residents said the confrontation escalated after the victim was allegedly attacked during a dispute in the community. Some witnesses claimed the assailants chased a group of people before fatally stabbing the mechanic, although authorities had not independently confirmed those accounts at the time of reporting.

The incident sparked outrage among local youths, who reportedly took to the streets demanding justice for the deceased. The protests quickly turned violent, with clashes breaking out between some Yoruba youths and Hausa residents in the Ojoo area.

Several residents fled their homes as tensions escalated, fearing retaliatory attacks. Businesses reportedly shut down while many people sought safety in neighbouring communities as uncertainty spread across the area.

Security operatives, including personnel from Operation Burst and other security agencies, were deployed to strategic locations around Ojoo to restore calm and prevent further violence. Their presence helped contain the unrest, although security remained tight as authorities monitored the situation.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not released an official statement confirming the circumstances surrounding the mechanic’s death or providing casualty figures from the clashes. Investigations into the incident are expected to continue.

Community leaders have appealed for restraint, urging residents not to take the law into their own hands while security agencies work to identify and apprehend those responsible for the alleged killing.

The latest violence revives concerns about recurring communal and ethnic tensions in parts of Ibadan, where previous disputes have occasionally escalated into deadly confrontations, prompting renewed calls for dialogue, justice and stronger security measures.

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