Traditional rulers in Irepodun and Oyun local government areas of Kwara State have paid symphathy visits to Offa and Erin-IIe following the recent violence in the two communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the traditional rulers from Oyun Local Government Area of the state were led by the Onira of Ira, Oba AbdulWaheed Oyetoro.

The Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Sikiru Woleola, led traditional rulers from Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the palace of the Olofa of Offa, Oba Oyetoro condemned the violence and pleaded with the two communities to embrace peace.

He noted that Erin-IIe and Offa had been in existence for a long time and were blessed with enterprising indigenes that could work for the development of the communities.

The traditional ruler commiserated with the families of those who died and those whose property were destroyed in the violence.

The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, represented by the Essa of Offa, Alhaji Yinusa Bukoye, thanked the traditional rulers for the visit.

At Erin-IIe, the traditional rulers also symphatised with the Elerin of Erin-IIe, Oba AbdulGaniyu Olusokun over the incident.

Oba Olusokun thanked his colleagues for the visit, assuring them that he would work toward maintaining peace in the area.

Woleola, who led the delegation from Irepodun, urged the two communities to embrace peace.

He commended the state government for setting up a commission of enquiry to probe the incident.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Offa Descendants’ Union (ODU) has commiserated with those who lost their lives and those who suffered varying degrees of injuries, as well as those whose property were destroyed during the recent communal clash in Offa.

The union, in a statement signed by Alhaji H.A. Adedeji and Chief (Mrs) Wosilat Macarthy, President and Secretary-General, respectively and made available to Community News in Ilorin, also prayed God to grant the dead eternal rest and their families the fortitude to bear the loss, just as it prayed for quick recovery of those receiving treatment in hospital.

The ODU, which commended the Kwara State government for its timely intervention, appealed for immediate prosecution of perpetrators of the attack, no matter how highly placed, to serve as deterrent to others.

“It is time Kwara State government finds a lasting solution to the age long rift because the town suffered casualties on the recent attack,” it said.

The union, which said it supports the judicial commission of enquiry set up by the state government on the crisis, however, called for justice.

It added that government should not sweep the recommendations to be made by the commission under the carpet.

The ODU also appealed to indigenes of the town to continue to be law abiding and cooperate with the state government in its bid to bring all culprits in the crisis to book in order to effect a lasting peace to the two communities.