Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has imposed a curfew on Offa and Erinle towns.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, the curfew will be in force between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. until further notice.
It says the curfew follows the renewed hostilities between some groups of persons from the two communities on Thursday.
The statement says security forces have been deployed to maintain the peace, while military reinforcements from Sobi Barracks and the Mobile Police force from Ilorin have also been deployed.
It, however, warns all residents to withdraw from the streets of Offa and Erinle and all contested areas immediately and stay indoors until the curfew is reviewed.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the reported hostilities were between members of transport unions in the area, which started on Wednesday, got escalated as one person is feared dead.
There was a report of gunshots and use of dangerous weapons during the melee, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office in the area was reportedly set ablaze by hoodlums.
It was also gathered that the crisis was between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) over a space of land earlier declared as unity land between the neighbouring towns of Offa and Erinle.
Sources said the state government had disallowed transporters from using the land as a motor park over the previous crisis which reportedly resulted in communal clashes in the past.
(Radio Nigeria Network)
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