The police command in Kwara has restored order in the popular Kara (livestock) market at Ijase-IPO, near Ilorin.

The command also assured residents, especially those travelling along the Ilorin-Ajase-Ipo-Offa highway, of peace and safety, according to a statement by its spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi, on Saturday in Ilorin. Mr Ajayi said normalcy was restored in the area, and the road was cleared.

On Friday, there was a clash between suspected OPC members and cattle dealers in the market.

The police said information received at Ajase-Ipo Divisional Police Command confirmed that OPC members passed in a convoy of about 20 vehicles through the Kara market.

“A cow being led across the road by a Fulani herder broke the side mirror of one of the vehicles, and it resulted in arguments, then an exchange of gunfire by both groups. OPC members and cow dealers in the market fought to the extent that four corpses of unidentified persons were recovered at the scene,” the police said.

Police deployed operatives to the scene to prevent the violent conflict from escalating, the statement noted.

The police commissioner in Kwara, Tuesday Assayomo, to prevent the escalation and killings of more people.

The four unidentified corpses were evacuated and deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital’s mortuary.

(NAN)