The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the recent crisis in Shasha, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as unfortunate and called on the law enforcement agencies to fish out the culprits.
He disclosed this on Sunday, while speaking with newsmen during a condolence visit to late Lateef Jakande’s residence at Ilupeju, Lagos State.
According to Osinbajo, “I have heard about the unfortunate mayhem and the tragic loss of lives at the Shasha Market in the past few days.
“For decades traders from the North have done business with their brothers from the South-West and they have lived in peace and even inter-married. Shasha is a place of unity.”
The Vice President also said that criminals must be dealt with according to the law and not an ethnic conflict.
“So when a disagreement arises between individuals or a criminal act is committed by one against the other, we must ensure that we see it for what it is, a criminal act, which must be punished according to law. Not by ethnic conflict.”
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The Vice President stated that each citizen has the right to live anywhere in peace and under the law, adding that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to live, work and enjoy their lives in safety, peace under the law.”
“It is the duty of government through the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute any person who commits a crime against a citizen of this nation.
“It is the role of the citizen to assist the police to identify the criminals. We must never take the law into our own hands, if we do we will be promoting chaos, and a breakdown of law and order, and all of us especially the most vulnerable amongst us, will be at risk.”
He urged community leaders to work together to preserve brotherly co existence.
“I urge all community leaders to work together to preserve the brotherly co-existence that our people from different parts of the country have enjoyed in Shasha market for several decades.”
“I commend the governor for his swift and decisive action and all the law enforcement agencies for their prompt intervention,” Osinbajo said.
• Contributed by Olaoye Ayotunde
