President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to protecting all religions and tribes.

The president stated this in a Facebook post on Sunday night amidst the worsening insecurity and violence unfolding in several parts of the country, including the most recent clashes between Yoruba and Fulani in Ibadan.

The president’s post read: “Our government will protect all religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria, whether majority or minority, in line with our responsibility under the Constitution. We will not allow any ethnic or religious groups to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.

“I appeal to religious and traditional leaders, as well as governors and other elected leaders across the country, to join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that communities in their domain are not splintered along ethnic and other primordial lines,” he said.

The president’s new call for ethnic, religious unity and tolerance is in reaction to reports of killings that transpired in Sasha public market in Ibadan over the weekend.

A misunderstanding had reportedly taken place on Thursday where a cobbler said to be a Yoruba man was stabbed with a knife by a cart pusher, a Hausa man, which later degenerated into ethnic violence, as the Yoruba in the community tried to avenge the killing of their fellow tribesman who later died on Friday in the hospital from his wounds.

To prevent further breakdown of order, Governor Seyi Makinde on February 13 announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew over Shasha neighbourhood, saying he had advised law enforcement officers to ensure prompt arrest of anyone caught formenting trouble in the area.

Some Southwest leaders, comprising Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Akeredolu, Olubadan Saliu Adeyinka, amongst others, also issued statements urging residents of all tribes in Ibadan to live together in peace and security.