There were rumours over Monday night that the Ife and Modakeke communities were at daggers drawn again.
The fracas which tightened those who witnessed the same incident a few decades ago has forced residents to scamper to safety especially since the rumours are nt yet confirmed.
It was also uncertain from which the direction the clash would come or is headed. However, many people caution that this is not the time for Yoruba communities to fight among themselves considering they have currently have a common course to deal with.
Fisayo Adedoyin Kabir@FisayoKabir· “So Ife and modakeke are fighting… instead of them to form a team and tackle the stupid fulani herdsmen, they are killing theirselves…Eedi re oooo…abi north don use diabolical powers for them?”
Olusegun Iselaiye@iotama22·”At this point, it will be very foolish of any communities in Yoruba land to start fighting themselves over anything. It’ll be very stupid of Ife and Modakeke to start another fight right now of course. I want to believe it’s all rumor.”
The older people who witnessed what happened with the last clash caution between the 2 communities say that it is not a war that must repeat itself.
They advise all warring parties to give peace a chance, especially at this time.
However,
However, AceOluwapelumi – {of Tech}@theangelofpc· says that, “Seems there’s no fight between Ife and Modakeke, the gun shots were due to a robbery in the Modakeke area. The rumour is spreading because the atmosphere between Modakeke and Ife is tensed at the moment and everyone is on high alert. Stay safe and don’t share rumours.”
Nonetheless Mogaji Ile Nla chronicles the history of wars between both communities in a post he titled Ife and Modakeke conflict in history:
“During the 19th century wars going on in Yoruba Country and the devastating destruction of the Old Oyo empire and many other ancient kingdoms and towns. A large number of refugees moved to Ile Ife to resettle & founded a town named Modakeke.
“In 1849, a violent conflict erupted between Ile-Ife and its twin town of Modakeke, caused partly by attempts by some prominent Ife lineages to limit Modakeke’s access to farming land, and partly by unresolved questions about the status of Modakeke in the Ooni’s kingdom.
“Angry crowds of Modakeke people burst into Ile-Ife, burning and destroying Ife houses. Ibadan intervened, calmed tempers, and made it possible for the people of Ile-Ife to rebuild their houses. Consequent upon this, both Modakeke and Ile-Ife (and by implication, all of the Ife kingdom) became dependencies of Ibadan, and Ibadan Ajeles were stationed in them and in the other towns of the kingdom.”
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