Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the ethnic clash that led to loss of lives and destruction of properties at Shasha market in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo state.

The clash was ignited following the death of a cobbler who was reportedly stabbed by a Hausa cart pusher at the market on Thursday.

The matter soon snowballed into inter-ethnic clash with shops and properties razed while indigenous residents engaged Northern traders in the vicinity in a fatal confrontation.

Condemning the clash, Amnesty International, in a statement on its official Twitter page said justice must take its course, while also calling on the government to put measures in place to prevent similar future occurrence.

The international rights body wrote “The Amnesty International condemns the attacks on northerners residing and doing business at the #Sasa area of Akinyele Local Government, #Oyo state. The attacks which led to the loss of lives and properties must be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. #ProtectAllLives

“We call on the Nigerian authorities to protect the lives and properties of every person in Nigeria wherever they reside. The government must take urgent steps to stop the escalation of violence. #ProtectAllLives #HumanRight

“The violent incidents in #Oyo and other places must be investigated promptly, independently and fairly. #ProtectAllLives”.

The police and Amotekun, the state’s security network, refused to confirm the number of casualties from the mayhem to People’s Gazette but multiple claims on social media say at least four people were killed.

The state governor, Seyi Makinde, had ordered a dusk to dawn curfew in the area and also shut down the market indefinitely.

Military deployment has also been ordered to the area to maintain peace, though there are claims that the peacekeepers were taking sides. The Gazette, however, has not independently confirmed such claims.