Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, on Monday said the police had launched a manhunt for an unnamed Islamic preacher over Sunday’s clash between two Islamic sects in the state capital, Ibadan.

About 10 persons were injured when members of the Izala and Tijanniya/Adriya sects clashed in a predominantly Hausa community known as Sabo in Mokola area of the state capital. Mostly affected in the clash were members of the Izala sect.

Bolanta told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday that the police were looking for the preacher, because there was information that his sermon allegedly caused the crisis. He also said that nine suspects had been arrested over the clash.

Our correspondent learnt that the preacher, who was invited from Jos, Plateau State, by one of the warring groups, allegedly made inciting statements against the other. The disagreement between the two Islamic sects, the Izala and Tijaniya group, that later culminated into the violence, was said to have been on for weeks.

Although peace has returned to the area, Bolanta said the command would ensure that those directly responsible for the clash were prosecuted.

Our correspondent learnt that the police had warned both groups against using loud speakers during their services. The matter was also taken to a magistrate’s court in Ibadan by the police, which secured an order barring them from using loud speakers for preaching.

But trouble reportedly started on Sunday when the guest preacher invited by one of the groups delivered his sermon, with the aid of a loudspeaker. It was at that point that members of the other group mobilised and stormed the mosque.

In the fracas that ensued, the two mosques belonging to the two groups and the central mosque were vandalised. Vehicles parked around the scene were also destroyed.

The Sarkin Sabo, Alhaji Ahmed Zungeru, blamed the clash on the Izala sect, noting that the cleric was invited by the group and that his preaching negated Islamic doctrines.

But an Izala leader, Alhaji Abubakar Saliu (a.k.a. Tanko), described Zungeru’s allegation as unfounded. He alleged that Zungeru and his chiefs led the invasion, which he said was a ploy to dislodge the Izala sect from the area.

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