At least one person was killed Monday, in a clash between anti-riot policemen and thugs as the crisis, which attended the installation of a new Mogaji Are in the Ilorin Emirate deepened. No fewer than 10 persons have been arrested by the police.

Sporadic shooting rocked sections of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital between Sunday night and dawn Monday, with the police claiming to have shot dead one of their attackers described as suspected member of a vigilance group.

The bloody clash and the alleged burning of the belongings of Alhaji Alabi Alasa, the immediate past Mogaji Are and father of former governor, Mohammed Lawal, have heightened tension with residents fleeing the Idi Ape area of Ilorin, the traditional home of Afonja (Yoruba) descendants in the town.

Reacting to police claim of the killing of a suspected member of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams Monday denied involvement of the group in the fracas. He, however, warned that his group would not hesitate to wade into the crisis in defence of the Afonja descendants.

No fewer than two persons, including a policeman had earlier been reported killed in the fracas which broke out on Sunday, when thugs attacked the convoy of the new Mogaji Are, Alhaji Shuaib Aremu Zubair, on his way home after being installed by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
Afonja descendants had rejected Alhaji Shuaib Zubair’s appointment as new Mogaji Are. Last Saturday, they had named and installed Alhaji Saaju Alabi Sulaiman as their leader. But in defiance, the Emir installed Zubair.

He also installed new Balogun Fulani, Alhaji Mahmud Durosinlorun Atiku and Balogun Ajikobi, Alhaji Usman Baba Olobi, just as three other Balogun, Alhaji Abdulkareem Laaro Buhari (Gambari), Alhaji Shuaib Adio Mahmud (Alanamu) and Alhaji Saka Aleshinloye (Baba Isale) were dismissed for alleged disloyalty and disobedience to the Emir.

Speaking on Monday’s clash, Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Gideon Markus, said the men first opened fire on the police who responded immediately, killing one of them.
Said he: "After killing our man, Corporal Obatayo Obatoke, the attackers regrouped again by 4.30pm yesterday (Sunday) to attack the police but there was no casualty.

"This morning (Monday) by 5.00a.m they came again wearing Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) uniform with bulletproof and charms. They were many and carried a small bag containing charms too. They opened fire on the police guarding the troubled area. The Police responded immediately and killed one, because our fire power was heavier than their own."

Markus explained that "when their man dropped dead this morning, they wanted to carry him but the firing of the police was heavier. The Police carried the dead body. We recovered a single barrel shotgun, two live cartridges, red cloth designed with charms, small bag with assorted charms, from the dead man."
Urging the aggrieved persons to embrace peace and see police as peacemakers, the PPRO said, "for now there is relative peace. The police are not taking things for granted, because we have been attacked three times. We are fully prepared. Since they have taken arms against the police, we should not rest. We know how much the Federal Government spends in training one policeman. So we cannot afford to lose any. Let the people make peace."

On the torching of the house of the former Mogaji Are, the PPRO said: "I want to say categorically that the police did not set any house ablaze. It was part of the late Mogaji’s house that was affected. We do not know how, but perhaps, you know when tear gas is thrown it goes with smoke. So it may have been what affected some areas of the house. But the fire brigade was invited to stop the fire immediately."
Markus said that so far, 10 persons have been arrested over the crisis.
When Daily Sun visited Idi Ape area, the whole place was deserted.

Efforts to get some of the aggrieved, especially the deposed chiefs to talk proved abortive. Policemen were seen patrolling the trouble areas with three armored tanks stationed at strategic places.
OPC coordinator, Gani Adams denied that the group was involved in the Ilorin crisis, saying the police were looking for a way to cover up the atrocities they committed in the town.

Said he: "They should not drag OPC’s name into the whole thing. But we are not shying away from protecting the interest of the Yoruba people in Ilorin. The Afonja descendants have installed Alhaji Saaju Alabi Suleiman as their Mogaji Are. He has been sworn-in. Any attempt by the Emir to install another person will not be accepted by Yoruba leaders."

Adams said the OPC was making contact with Yoruba leaders across the country, adding that appropriate reaction would be taken after the consultations.

Meanwhile the IBB Trumpet 007, a group working for the return of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to power, has asked for the Federal Government’s intervention.
The group called for the sanctioning of the Emir whom it accused of causing the crisis.