RTEAN units disagreement sparks Offa/Erin-Ile communal clash… as state govt declares curfew

The perenial clash between Offa Local Government Area  and Erin Ile, a town under Oyun Local Government Area has been awoken by disagreement between units of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

Just in hours, what seem to have appeared as possible lasting peace was truncated as the crisis has resulted in destruction of properties worth millions of Naira.
According to reports, the renewed hostility between the two communities was as a result of the siting of motor parks involving Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, ErinIle Unit and the Offa arm of the RTEAN.
It was revealed that the Offa NURTW had their garage just at the gate of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa where they have been operating a long time ago which is along the Ajase-Osogbo Road. It was said that in a bid to have her branch along the busy road, the members of the Erin Ile branch of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria had to create a new garage at the other end of the FRSC office that is located in Erin-Ile along the border of the two towns.

The move by the Erin Ile RTEAN miffed members of the offa RTEAN and certain elements in the NURTW as a challenge to them. While tempers were flaring, the Offa unit of the RTEAN in retaliation of the move by the Erin Ile group, went to site their own park along the same route,  a move that was resisted by Erin Ile community that eventually led to a fisticuff between the two groups and subsequently led to the destruction of properties on both sides of properties.
As at the time of filing this report, Kwara State Government  has imposed  6:pm to 8: am curfew. The Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has imposed a curfew on Offa and Erinle towns according to a press release by his Chief Press Secretary
The curfew will be in force between 6p.m. and 8 a.m. until further notice. The State adds that, “The curfew takes immediate effect from 6p.m. today Thursday March 3, 2021. Security agencies have been deployed to enforce the curfew. While security forces on ground are to maintain the peace, military reinforcements from Sobi Barracks and the Mobile Police force from Ilorin have been deployed immediately. All residents are hereby directed to withdraw from the streets of Offa and Erinle and all contested areas immediately. Residents are to stay indoors until the curfew is reviewed,”  “The Governor urges residents of both communities and travellers crisscrossing the areas to comply with this directive to save lives and property. He appeals to leaders on both sides to restrain and caution their people against provocative action, and to maintain peace. The security forces are urged to be very firm in dealing with the situation and in enforcing the curfew.” 

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