The Surveyor-General of Kwara State, Mr. Lamidi Oyebode, yesterday said that part of the measures taken by the state government to bring lasting solution to the recurrence of the communal clashes between Offa and Erin-Ile was the construction of the Kwara Unity Road at the boundaries of the two communities.

Mr. Oyebode stated this while he was refuting an allegation of unprofessional conduct leveled against him before the Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up by the Kwara State Government to look into the recent communal crisis between the two communities.

Oyebode was accused before the commission by a witness from Offa on Monday that he was one of the remote causes of the January5, 2013 crisis that led to the destruction of lives and properties due to his unprofessional conduct in the construction of the road marked as buffer zone.

Testifying before the commission, the Surveyor-General stated that the Unity Road was constructed as a result of the recommendation of the panel of enquiry set up in 2006 in respect of an earlier crisis between the two communities.

“The office of the Surveyor-General was responsible for the data and implementation of the project. I think the aim of the project was to resolve the dispute between the two communities.

“In fact, I have not committed any professional or ethical misconduct. The layout map for the construction of the buffer zone was submitted to the government through the office of the former Deputy Governor, Chief Joel Ogundeji, and it was approved by the Kwara State Executive Council before it was constructed,” Oyebode said.

While under cross examination from a counsel representing Offa community, Barrister B.F. Lawal, Oyebode agreed that there was an earlier Gazette No. 1 of 1998 which mapped down the buffer zone but he was not in possession of the documents.

He however pleaded with the commission to allow him more time to produce the documents before it.

Another witness who appeared before the commission yesterday, the Operation Manager of Yammfy Farms Limited, Ilemona, Mr. Maruf A. Lawal, said that on January 30, people suspected to be from Erin-Ile attacked and set the farm ablaze.

Lawal, who claimed that the farm was worth N4billion, alleged that 74,200 fowls and N4 million cash were burnt to ashes in the farm by the suspects who wore mask during the crisis.

Testifying on the memorandum submitted by the Exact Petroleum Limited, the Managing Director, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, said that the company valued at N33 million was razed down during the crisis.

Meanwhile, hearing on other memoranda submitted before the commission continues tomorrow.