The death of a cobbler who was stabbed by a cart pusher has resulted in ethnic clashes in the Shasha market area in Ibadan, Oyo State, with stalls burnt and properties worth millions blazed. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the clash erupted on Thursday but reached its peak on Friday when the cobbler was confirmed dead as a result of injury sustained during the clash.

A witness told NAN that the cart pusher, from the northern part of the country, stabbed the cobbler, a Yoruba, with a knife as a result of a misunderstanding between the two.

The witness said that the cobbler was rushed to the hospital for treatment and later confirmed dead on Friday morning.

He said that the situation sparked trouble as traders and some other residents of the area stormed the Shasha market on Friday, to avenge the death of their colleague.

When NAN visited the area, it was discovered that some shops and houses were burnt while the market was deserted.

Security operatives, including the police, the state Joint Anti-Crime security patrol team codenamed Operation Burst and Amotekun operatives, were seen at different locations to ensure that normalcy returns in the area.

Police spokesman in the state, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident in an interview with NAN on Friday, in Ibadan.

Mr. Fadeyi said that the violence erupted as a result of minor misunderstanding between two persons which later resulted in the death of one of them.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadako, and Governor Seyi Makinde’s aide have been to the place to talk to the aggrieved parties,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde has ordered shutdown of the market indefinitely and also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the Shasha area following the breach of peace.

A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Taiwo Adisa, on Saturday, said the curfew will take effect from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“Residents of the affected area and enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.

“Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law,” the governor warned.

(NAN)