The Kwara State government has resolved the dispute between the Yoruba and Baruba communities in the Chikanda, Baruten local government area of the state. The state government’s delegation led by the speaker of the House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, appealed for peace among the warring parties in Chikanda.

The peace meeting held at Kosubosu, headquarters of Baruten local government was attended by the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Ilugbemidepo and the Ibà of Kishi, Oba Moshood Arowoduye II, both from Oyo State as well as a delegations of the Baruba and Yoruba communities. Danladi-Salihu reiterated the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s led administration to sustainable peace in all parts of the state.

“We are here as Kwara State government’s delegates to talk peace and we are committed to doing everything possible to maintain and sustain the age-long peaceful and harmonious coexistence between our brothers and sisters of the Baruba and Yoruba extractions, with whom we’ve lived peacefully over the years,” the speaker said.

“I must commend the proactive measures taken by our royal fathers; the Okere of Saki and the Ibà of Kisi to put the crisis under control. You have done wonderfully well as traditional leaders and I would like to urge you to keep playing the fatherly role of talking to our people to maintain and sustain the age-long friendly relationship we have among ourselves,” he added.

The speaker also acknowledged the support of the Emirs of Òkúta, Ilesha-Baruba, Yashikira, and Gwanara who also attended the peace meeting.

He commended the monarchs for their efforts towards maintaining peace in the area, urging them to keep talking to the people on the need to avoid war at all cost, saying that no price should be too much to pay for peace to reign.

The commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Abdullahi Bata, and the Baruten local government TIC chairman, Hon. Rasheed Lafia sued for peace and restated the commitment of AbdulRazaq-led administration to sustaining the age-long peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship between Kwara and Oyo states.