The Share community in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday protested against alleged violence unleashed on the residents by the Tsaragi, a neighbouring community in the Edu LGA. This is just as the Kpesumaila's family of Shiya in the Baruteen council decried alleged unlawful arrest by the police on the order of the Emir of Okuta.

The Vice National President of the Share Descendants' Union, Mr. Gabriel Jimoh, during the peaceful protest in Ilorin, said aside the loss of lives, three primary schools were burnt down by the Tsaragi during a communal clash. He also claimed that over 60 residential houses and 73 shops were razed, while 30 vehicles were destroyed.

Jimoh added that telecommunication masts and equipment were also damaged, while two mosques and a church were vandalised during the mayhem which occurred in December 2015. He accused Tsaragi community of unleashing mayhem on Share community, saying it was worrisome that the perpetrators had not been arrested.

"The state government may not have the political will to address the situation, but the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, must ensure that the perpetrators of the violence face the wrath of the law," he said.

The union leader also appealed to the Kwara State Government to rebuild the three primary schools burnt during the crisis to enable their children to continue with their education. The Tsaragi community leaders could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Meanwhile, a member of the Kpesumaila's family, Mr. Mohammed Shiya, in an interview with our correspondent in Ilorin, alleged injustice against his family members. He said no fewer than 13 members of his family, including his 74-year-old mother, were arrested by the police.

Shiya said while his mother was later released, the others had been detained since March 13. He stated that some youths on February 20, 2016, had attacked one of his family members, Usman.

He explained that the assailants were arrested, but later released after they signed an undertaking to pay the victim's hospital bills. He alleged that the suspected assailants reneged on the undertaking while Usman later died.

According to him, consequent upon Usman's death, some enraged youths burnt the houses of the suspected assailants. Shiya said, "Immediately, the Emir of Okuta called me that I should withdraw the case from the police for amicable settlement at home. I agreed to it.

"But two weeks after, the same Emir instigated the Divisional Police Officer to make a report of arson at the police command headquarters. They listed my family members alone and arrested 13 of them. "Initially, they arrested my mother, but the Emir intervened and the old woman was released.

"As I speak, the other people are still in the police custody since March 13. They have not been charged to court, and were not granted bail." The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said the matter involved arson and murder, adding that the suspects would be arraigned in court at the end of investigations.

The Secretary to the Baruteen Emirate Council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Audu, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, denied the involvement of the Emir in the ordeal of Kpesumaila's family.

Audu said, "This is a case between those that burnt down people's houses and their victims. You cannot burn people's houses and expect your victims to be smiling. It is common sense that the suspects will be hounded and arrested by the police. "The Emir cannot instigate the arrest and harassment of innocent people. So, it is not true that the Emir instigated the arrest of the suspects. The Emir is the father of everybody and cannot be partial."