Tragedy: 5 feared dead in Ibadan as masquerade clashes with hoodlums

Two groups of hoodlums clashed during the Egungun festival on Sunday where five persons reportedly died in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The source revealed that many people sustained injury during the fracas that occurred at Idi-Arere and Oja’ba area which disturbed the commercial activities of the area for almost two hours.

The source further revealed to OSUN REPORTERS that the clash was said to have occurred when a popular masquerade, ‘Ege’ was moving from Iyana Asuni to Idi-Arere Junction where hoodlums and Egungun were said to have faced each other with dangerous weapons.

It was reported that those hoodlums stoned the policemen, who had to teargas them and at the same time shot sporadically to scare them away in other to restore peace into the area.

While contacting Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, who is the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident and warned against any group of people who intend to hide under one platform or the other to disturb the peace of the State.

Olugbenga said: “Reports reaching us were clear that our men who had been deployed to the major axis of the city in preparation and anticipation of the Egungun festival by the Commissioner of Police to forestall a breakdown of law and order, are on ground.

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police will not spare anybody found to be causing violence in the state as enough measures to keep the state safe had been put in place.”

As at the time of filling thus report, the area in question in Ibadan has back to normal.