By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
It was confusion galore in Oke-Ado, Oke-Bola, Imalefalaafia, Liberty Road, Anfaani areas of Ibadan on Monday as members of New Era and the Gani Adams factions of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) engaged in bloody clash in the areas.
New Nigerian learnt that the bloody clash erupted at a gathering over the weekend when a leader of one of the OPC factions said to be residing around the Oke-Ado market area/ Oke-Bola reportedly had a disagreement with some members of the other OPC faction said to be a the venue.
Sources said the clash between the factional OPC groups continued till Sunday evening during which the fracas extended to Oredein/Akuro areas and that by Monday morning, t has degenerated into full blown mayhem forcing residents and shop owners in the affected areas to flee their homes and as well closed their shops .
According to sources in the affected areas, seceral properties, items meant for sale worth millions of Naira were destroyed by the warring OPC faction members during the clashes at some shops beside popular Kola Eleja store, while a newly built white structure opposite a filling station in Oke Ado area having their glasses shattered with the roads leading to the inner part of the Oke Ado market were deserted as broken bottles, planks and glasses littered the street linking the market junction.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude was sighted leading men of the state Police Command to the areas to maintain peace while men of the command immediately sacked the warring OPC factional members from the area.
Commenting on the bloody clash, Oyo State Chairman of the Gani Adams OPC faction, Comrade Rotimi Oluomo stated that members of his faction were not involved in the said fracas that rocked some parts of Ibadan since Saturday.
Comrade claimed that the bloody clash was between hoodlums from Foko and Oke-Ado which has been on for a very long time and not members of his OPC faction.
The New Era faction of OPC in a statement by its state PRO, Comrade Gbolahan Oladiran alleged that the Oyo State Coordinator of OPC Gani Adams faction should be held responsible for the Ibadan mayhem.
“The Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, New Era is using this medium to
inform the Oyo state government, the Commissioner of Police, Director of the State Security Service and all other security agencies in Oyo state to hold the Oyo state Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, Gani Adams, Rotimi Olumo responsible for the series of mayhem recorded
in some parts of Ibadan metropolis” he said.
Comrade Oladiran added that ” the latest of such personal instigated mayhem is the one that happened on Saturday 27, January at Iya Keji Beer Parlour, Oke Ado area, where Rotimi Olumo instructed his squad led by Akin Osa, Sule Boko, Apatari and others to attack the trio of Toye, Pastor Segun and DJ Pako who are members of OPC New Era who were at the Beer Parlour to take drinks” saying, “it took the intervention of God and good Samaritans for them to escape the place without being killed”
He alleged further that some members of ” OPC New Era living in Akuro and its environs managed to escape but one of our members who go by the name Muri was shot dead and his corpse was taken away by Olumo and his gang members comprising of Akin Osa, Boko, Apatari and others” adding that ” Up till now, we are still looking for some of our members who became missing after the attack.”
