A swift intervention of the men and officers of Kwara state Police Command saved what could have degenerated into a clash of two ethnic nationalities yesterday at Iyana Share, a busy ‘Y’ junction along Old Ilorin Jebba Way, in Ifelodun Local Government Area LGA of the state, as a man was feared dead in the fracas.
The intersection leads to Babanloma town and Share, the headquarters of the LGA respectively.
According to sources, a middle aged man was accosted of being a suspected thief and was about to be lynched prompting his drawing of his sword and got the full support of his father who also put his sword at work as defensive weapon.
It was a market day and before long many others drew their swords to begin a bloody fight with some defenceless marketers and a few members of the vigilance group employed by the council to collaborate with the Police as law enforcement agencies.
According to a source, “one of the feuding groups opened fire with his gun and released a bullet that hit the suspected thief. This occured after many people had been attacked with swords wielding mob creating a pandemonium in the market and the adjoining settlements.
“Many people thought it was another banditry invasion at first and the news went viral that the place was under the siege of the bandits. But the timely arrival of the police and some other law enforcement agents restored calm into the area.”
The Police spokesperson in the state, Superintendent Toun Ejire Adeyemi could not be reached for confirmation of the story as at press time.
Meanwhile, some residents of the area have appealed to the concerned authorities to deploy more security personnel into the troubled spot to prevent a reprisal.
Ends.