Violence leaves 3 dead in Jebba, in Moro local government area of Kwara State

Jebba, in Moro local government area of Kwara State, erupted in violence during the last Eid-el-Fitri celebrations, claiming lives while property worth millions of Naira was also destroyed. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the violence followed an age-long disagreement between the faction loyal to the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara, and those opposed to him, simply identified as Okedares.

It was further gathered that pandemonium broke shortly after the Eid el Fitri prayers when some indigenes, allegedly from the Okedare group engaged in some display at the frontage of Adebara’s palace. As efforts to stop the display were allegedly rebuffed, it was gathered that one popular man in the town, identified as Baale Osogun, also decided to stage his own display at the same venue. Irked by the development, some loyalists of the monarch were said to have attempted to disperse the crowd by force, leading to a violent resistance.

An eye witness said: “It was at this moment that we started hearing sounds of gun shots at Oke-Oja where the palace is sited. The shots hit three people who were rushed  to a nearby hospital. One of them died moments later. The deceased was fondly called ‘Pastor.’ The two others, in critical condition, also later died. Besides, a vehicle and a motor cycle at the scene were burnt.”

But the leaders  of Jebba community accused the Deputy Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Okedare, and the Clerk of the House, Simon Okedare, of complicity in the violence while it was alleged that there was an attempt to assassinate the monarch. The Deputy Speaker vehemently denied the allegations against him and the Clerk.

The spokesperson for the community, Chief Jayeola Omotoso, on behalf of Asoju Oba of the Jebba, Chief Yakubu Ayodele, and Otun Oba, Chief Emmanuel Tytler, alleged that the Deputy Speaker, who is an indigene of Jebba, recruited the attackers who allegedly came in an 18-seater bus and two motorcycles. The community leader, who said  the suspected hoodlums were armed with guns, spears, machetes and arrows, added that corpses of the victims of the violence  had been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for autopsy while those who sustained injuries were receiving treatment in hospitals in Jebba.

While the community said it appreciated the efforts of security agencies to restore normalcy in the town, it  demanded  the  re-arrest   of the 11 suspects released out of the 21 held by the police, adding: “There is tension in Jebba, and only justice can douse it”. Omotoso went on: “Jebba community  demands  absolute justice wherein all perpetrators of the dastardly act will be brought to book including their sponsors, no matter how highly placed.

“We also demand adequate security for the Oba of Jebba, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adebara, members of his household and the entire people of Jebba henceforth. “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the IGP and all relevant authorities to intervene in this matter”. Reacting to the allegations, Okedare, the Deputy Speaker,  denied sponsoring the hoodlums. He said neither he nor the Clerk was in Jebba at  the time of the incident. The Deputy Speaker, therefore, called on law enforcement agencies to unravel those behind the crisis and not hesitate to bring them to book.

“I, Hon. Matthew Okedare, Deputy Speaker, was not in Jebba township as of the time of the incident. I left Jebba at 10:45 am on the said date only to receive a distress call at about 1:00pm when I entered Ilorin. “I was also informed that those arrested by the police were the people that came to report the attack by the children of Alhaji Alabi Adebara and  those safeguarding the house of Alhaji Abubakar Kayode Okedare”.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of  Kwara State Traditional Council, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, opposed the position of the Jebba community in the crisis. While urging the residents of Jebba to go about their lawful businesses and desist from engaging in the breakdown of law and order, he expressed deep concerns over the post-Eid el-Fitri prayer’s fracas.

A statement issued on the Emir’s behalf by Alhaji Abdulazeez Arowona also condemned an attempt by some people from Jebba in Ilorin to parade Alhaji AbdulKadir Alabi Adebara as the Oba of Jebba.

“To set the records straight, as the Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Council, the Emir of Ilorin  has always championed advocacy talk for peaceful co-existence among the entire people of the state and ensuring that  crises are averted through consultations”, the statement said. “The Emir has never and will never descend to the point of instigating citizens against each other thereby causing chaos as well as breakdown of law and order. The Emir will never connive with anybody or group of persons to alter or flout any section of the Constitution which preaches peace and security.

“As a retired Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal, the Emir understands the rudiments of law having sat on numerous cases which have further enhanced justice for the oppressed across the country through his diligent and transparent discharge of duty. “Coming back home as the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Council, his job among others is to ensure that traditional rulers continue to foster unity and harmony in their respective domains.”

While the police, according to the spokesperson,ajayi okasanmi, initially arrested 21 persons in connection with the jebba  incident out of which 11 persons were released,investigations are ongoing.