Hundreds of Hausa people living in Oyo State are relocating to the North in the aftermath of last week’s crisis in the Shasa area and environs in Ibadan
Some of the northerners who left the crisis-prone areas between Friday and Saturday said they paid security operatives between N5,000 and N10, 000 to escort them to safer locations, including the residence of Sarkin Sasa, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin.
One of the victims said they had to pay the money so that they would not be lynched.
Recall that a fight that ensued between the Hausa community and the native Yoruba community in Shasa Market, which started on Thursday, February 11, and snowballed on Friday, February 12, had led to the death of nearly 30 people.
The Sasha Market with shops belonging to the Hausa and Yoruba, vehicles and many residential houses were burnt during the crisis.
Even though peace has reportedly been restored in Shasa and environs following the deployment of security agents, leaders of the Hausa community and some displaced residents said many of them including women and children have started coming back to the North.
Some of the victims said they had to leave Ibadan for the North because they lost all their belongings, including shops and houses, and there was no support from the government at the state and federal levels.
Daily Trust learnt that besides many of the northerners that left for Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa and other states, about 500 are currently taking refuge at Akinyele’s Main Garage. The head of the garage, Alhaji Yaro Abubakar, told our reporter that the youths have been there since Friday and most of them trekked from Shasa Market and adjoining quarters.
“Some of us received monetary donations from our fellow Hausa community leaders to go back to our respective states in the North,” one of the displaced persons said.
He said they lost their belongings during Friday’s crisis. “And that is why we are going back to the North. We are lucky to be alive,” he said.
A wealthy individual, one Alhaji Nasiru Muhammad Naharande (Youth Leader of the Hausa community in Ibadan), is providing three square meals to the victims at the garage. Other well to do individuals were also assisting the displaced.
Most of the IDPs interviewed vowed not to return to the Shasa Market until the government took decisive measures in protecting their lives and property.
The Magajin Gari Hausawa of Ibadan Land, Alhaji Usman Garba, confirmed on Monday that some members of the Hausa Community were going back to the North in droves.
According to him, “We have not seen any government intervention agency or NGO to attend to our humanitarian needs. Our people are joining trailers and buses back to the North. They are returning to the North not because they asked them to go but because many of them have lost their belongings to the crisis.”
Asked about the security situation in Shasa, he said, “Our people are impressed because the police, DSS, Army, civil defence and men of Amotekun are here. They check people moving in and out of Shasa.”
