The Sarkin Hausawa of Ondo, Alhaji Abdulsalam Yusuf, has said the recent attack on the Hausa community in Ondo town which led to the death of five people is not an armed robbery attack as claimed by the police.
He said the attack was targeted at the Hausa community.
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Yusuf told Daily Trust that four people lost their lives in the attack which occurred at Sabo area, while another person was killed at Igba area, also a Hausa community.
He said the Hausa communities had been living in fear since the Sunday attack by terrorists on St Francis’ Catholic Church in Owo LGA.
Yusuf said, “We disregard the police statement; it is not true that it was an armed robbery attack. If the attackers were armed robbers, they would have stolen property or valuables, but they did not do so, and the attacks were targeted at two Hausa communities.
“Four people lost their lives in the Sabo area of Akure – two were Hausa and the other two were Yoruba who went to a tea spot to eat noodles. The attackers did not go with any valuable and they did not collect anything from anyone.
“At the second attack in Igba, one suya seller was killed. So it was not an armed robbery attack, but an attack targeted at the Hausa communities in Ondo.”
Earlier in a statement, the police spokesperson in Ondo State, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, described the incident as an armed robbery attack.
The statement reads partly: “The attention of the Ondo State Police Command has been drawn to a fake news being peddled by some mischief makers to cause panic, tension and strife in the state.
“The command wishes to state clearly that there was no reprisal attack on the Hausa community at Sabo area in Ondo town or any part of the state as purported by these warmongers.
“On Tuesday, 7th of June, 2022, there was an attempted robbery on a J5 vehicle with plate no MKA – 469 YJ carrying onions and potatoes coming from Zaria en route to Ore, which had a stopover at Ondo town and was attacked by men of the underworld around 0110hrs.
“In the cause of the attempt, the robbers shot the driver while the motor boy escaped with bullet injury. A motorcyclist and a passerby were also hit by stray bullets.
“It is, however, disheartening that these peddlers who are out to achieve no good did not confirm the story before spreading this falsehood as the victims involved in this failed robbery are from Yoruba, Igbo and Northern extractions.
“Investigation has since commenced and effort is ongoing to arrest the assailants.”
From Abbas Ibrahim Dalibi & Bola Ojuola (Akure)
