The Kwara State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 21 suspects over the violence in Jebba of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, which led to the death of three people.

The command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, in a telephone interview with our correspondent also said that aside the 21 arrested suspects, the police had declared wanted 10 suspects in connection with the mayhem.

The Jebba community identified three dead victims during the mayhem - Oseni Yisa, Gbenga Samuel, and Olaoluwa Babatunde - adding that 12 people got varying degrees of injury during the attack which occurred after the Idel-Fitri prayers on Wednesday, July 6.

The Gbobaniyi of Jebba, Chief Jaiyeola Omotosho, who spoke on behalf of the community, also said 11 out of the arrested 21 suspects had been released by the police and demanded their re-arrest. He also said there was an attempt to assassinate the Oba of Jebba, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adebara, while also accusing the Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Matthew Okedare, of sponsoring the hoodlums who unleashed the mayhem.

He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and all relevant authorities to intervene in the matter. Omotosho said, "On Sallah Day, the Oba of Jebba had observed the Idel prayer and returned to his palace where he was hosting the mammoth crowd that accompanied him from the prayer ground. Suddenly, an 18-seater bus and two motorcycles, with men armed with guns, spears, arrows and machetes emerged at the venue of the reception and opened fire.

"Commotion arose, with everyone running for their lives. The Oba of Jebba was ferried out of the venue by a courageous human shield formed around him. The assailant eventually beat a retreat, leaving behind their bus and the two motorcycles.

"When the dust had settled, three men had died, with twelve having varying degrees of gun shot wounds. The dead have been brought to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, for autopsy while the wounded are still receiving treatment in hospitals in Jebba."

But Okedare said neither him nor his family members were either directly or remotely involved in the mayhem. He stated said he was not in Jebba town during the attack on that day, adding that he left Jebba by 10.45am only to receive a distress call around 1pm when he was entering Ilorin.

He added that he was also informed that the problem started hours after everybody had returned from the Yidi ground when members and friends of the Okedare family were returning to their domains when the children and cohorts of Adebara allegedly attacked them, burnt their vehicles and motorcycles right on the main road.

He also said he received phone calls that his house, the house of Okedare and some other members of the family were listed among the houses to be burnt, which he said necessitated the recruitment of the vigilantes to safeguard their houses.

He said he was also informed that the attempt to burn the houses was witnessed by the team of police officers led by the Divisional Police officer in Jebba. He added he was informed that the culprits of the attempted arson were Tunde Ogoruwo, Isiaka Ogbehun and Akeeem Kadija.

He stated that he was informed that those arrested by the police were people that came to report the attack allegedly by the children of Adebara and his cohorts to the police and those safeguarding the house of Okedare. He urged the law enforcement agencies investigating the matter to unravel the culprits and bring them to justice.