Yoruba, Hausa Butchers Clash

Protests against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government continued in Ilorin Thursday but limited to two areas of the city. Some people reportedly suffered severe injuries.

The violence that occurred at Sango, one of the two locations where the protests took place, was as a result of a clash between Yoruba butchers and their Hausa counterparts over a decision not to slaughter any cattle for the day which the Hausas defied.

It was learnt that the development irked the leaders of the butchers association who went to challenge the action of their northern colleagues but were rebuffed.

The bitter argument that ensued resulted in fighting which allegedly led the Hausas to block the access to their area with tyres they set on fire.

The fighting also spread to Ipata Market office of the butchers’ association where those sympathetic to either side continued the fighting

However, the arrival of the police at the scene and their attempt to remove the burning tyres allegedly ignited a row of makeshift shops along the road and the fire spread to other areas.

During a visit to the scene at about 4p.m., broken bottles, bricks, stones and remnants of burning tyres littered the road while a white government ambulance was seen conveying injured victims to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).

Ilorin, the Kwara State capital in North Central Nigeria, has already recorded a casualty in the wake of the nationwide protests against the removal of subsidy. A youth died there earlier in the week during a protest.

— Stephen Oni/ Ilorin