Shasha Violence: Buhari Frowns at Ethnic Crisis
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration is firmly against any sect or religious group which seeks to spring up hatred and violence against other groups in the country.
The Presidential aide disclosed this yesterday in a statement titled “President Buhari condemns reported cases of ethnic violence in the country.”
This follows the most recent ethnic crisis which erupted in the Shasha market, Ibadan, the southwestern part of Nigeria, that recorded over 20 deaths.
In his reaction, the President has vowed to protect all religious and ethnic groups, whether majority or minority, in line with its responsibility under the constitution.
The statement revealed thus, “President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his government will protect all religious and ethnic groups, whether majority or minority, in line with its responsibility under the constitution.
“In a reaction to reports of the breakout of violence in some parts of the country by some ethnic and sectional groups, President Buhari warned that the government would not allow any ethnic or religious group to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.
“The President condemned such violence and gave the assurance that his government will act decisively to stop the spread of any such violence.
“He appealed to religious and traditional leaders as well governors and other elected leaders across the country to join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that communities in their domain are not splintered along ethnic and other primordial lines.”
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that the Shasha violence followed a controversy between Hausa traders and Yoruba at Shasa Market in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State, on Thursday.
Newsmen report an argument between a pregnant woman and a hired laborer inside the Shasha market. The pregnant woman, identified as Yoruba, reportedly asked the hired laborer, Hausa, to carry some wares. The negotiation failed, and it became violent, leading to the death of the woman and Adex, a Yoruba man who is alleged to have been punched with a charm by the Hausa man.
