Kwara: Four Persons Killed As OPC, Cow Dealers Clash

By Ayodele Oni

Four persons have been confirmed dead during a clash between members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and cattle dealers in Kwara State.

It was gathered that the incident happened at a popular cattle market at Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun local government area of the State.

The spokesman of the State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the development in a statement made available to Journalists in Ilorin the state capital.

It was gathered that the crisis started at Kaara market, a weekly cow market in the town with both parties engaging in shooting which later left four unidentified persons dead while many also sustained various degrees of injuries.

A source said that the clash first started between cow merchants in the market and it later escalated to the major road while the OPC members who were returning from Osun State where they attended a festival in Osogbo got involved in the clash because of the traffic gridlock on Omu-Aran-Ilorin highway.

However, the State Police Command said normalcy has been restored in the area, following deployment of policemen.

Commissioner of police, Kwara State Police Command, Tuesday Assayomo  is reported to have ordered immediate deployment to prevent further escalation and killings of more people in the affected area.

The four unidentified dead bodies have been evacuated from the scene and deposited at the  University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) morgue and the injured taken to the hospital in Ajase-Ipo for medical treatment.