Former Kano state governor and serving senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso on Tuesday visited the ancient town of Ile-Ife in Osun state, scene of an ethnic clash that claimed many lives last week.
The senator representing Kano central senatorial district at the national assembly visited the Sabo area in Ile-Ife accompanied by the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Babajide Omoworare within whose senatorial district the area falls.
Kwankwaso stated that his visit was to commiserate with his kinsmen and victims of the clash.
The former governor addressed members of the Hausa community inside a mosque at the scene before proceeding to the Oba Okunade Sijuwade City Hall where he addressed other victims of the clash, including members of the Yoruba community.
Kwankwaso said, “If property and lives are destroyed, it is the responsibility of the security agents to make arrests because some people were responsible for the destruction. Those arrested will be charged to court and the law will take its course.”
He added, “Some of the Hausa people (here) have never been to Kano and, likewise, there are Yoruba people in Kano, who have never travelled down to the South.”
Kwankwaso also commended Governor Aregbesola for acting promptly to nip the crisis in the bid.
At the meeting held in the town hall, the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, who is the second in command to the Ooni, lamented that security agencies had made Yoruba people their focus of arrest.
In response, Aregbesola noted that there was no way innocent people would not be arrested in such a situation but assured residents of the town that no innocent person would be punished.
He similarly called on both Ife people and the Hausa community to send the names of the perpetrators of the crisis to the government, saying they would be arrested.
According to Punch, the governor announced that a commission of enquiry would be established to investigate the cause of the matter and offer solutions to stop a recurrence.