The Afeniefere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday denounced the police investigation of this month’s mayhem in Ile-Ife, Osun State describing it as one-sided and predetermined.
Elder statesmen Ayo Fasanmi and Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader Gani Adams, also criticised the investigation and lopsided arrests.
But the police defended their action and warned that security of the country should be paramount.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, the group urged the police to carry out a thorough and trustworthy investigation to determine the immediate and remote cause of the crisis.
It said: “In a violent clash that involved deaths, injuries and arson on all sides, the Nigeria police are saying that Yoruba people are the only culprits. Yoruba people attacked their own people and burnt the homes of their own people.
“Who would believe this? We contend that the Ife crisis, no matter how much the police tends to make it an ethnic issue will never stand as one.
“It disturbingly raised the question of partisanship and cast a doubt on the police institution. But, the whole world can see now the joke that the Nigeria police is in the temple of justice and fairness.”
Famoriyo added that the outcome was not surprising, noting that similar incidents in Southern Kaduna, Benue and Enugu states were bungled.
“Within a week it found sudden ‘efficiency’ in the Ile-Ife crisis. Where was the police when a similar crisis broke out in Mile 12, Lagos last year during which Yoruba people were killed and their property razed.
”Where was the police when a LASTMA official Tunde Bakare was brazenly murdered in the process of enforcing the rule of law?
“Yoruba people are lovers of peace, but also haters of injustice in any appearance of form and we would not allow our people to be deliberately made a scapegoat of inherent failure of Nigeria’s nationality.”
But the police insisted that their investigation was thorough and that those paraded were found culpable.
They also denied that the clash was motivated by ethnic or religious reasons. .
Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), told our correspondent in Abuja yesterday that the investigation was not one-sided.
He said: “The Nigeria Police Force under Inspector General of Police  (IGP) Ibrahim Idris is stamping out impunity in totality. Gone are the days when people will take up arms and kill other Nigerians and go free.
“No matter highly placed any group or association is, they should not whip sentiment into the police investigation.
“They should be mindful of national security and they should be mindful that every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country. National unity is very important. So, any association that goes to fan the ember of disunity should know that they are not doing this nation any good. The era of impunity is over.
“Anybody or group that has been accused of any offence would be prosecuted and the law will take its course. It is important to also note that associations should follow up matters in the proper manner, they have the right to defend whoever they want to defend and they have the right to seek legal remedy for anybody that is being charged to court.
“It would be wrong for them to cast aspersions on the police investigation. The investigation was unbiased, thorough and we are going to sustain the tempo.
“We don’t have any reason whatsoever to be biased in an investigation.”
Explaining how the police ended the mayhem, he said:  ”Our men were deployed in Osun State and in the first two days of their deployment, they succeeded in arresting the arrow-head and some of the principal suspects and further investigation
He also explained that “outside those paraded, investigation is ongoing and we are still going to arrest anybody found to be involved”. “We want people to know that we are not one-sided.
“The investigation was thorough. Amongst those released, there were indigenes and people who are not even from Ile-Ife, probably among the victims and relatives of victims.”
On whether the clash had any ethnic colouration, Moshood said: “This is no ethnic or religious clash; these are people who have been living together for years. Issues came up and that is why the police are there to ensure that anybody that takes law into his hands will face the full wrath of the law.”
Moshood added that the Special Police Investigation Team deployed in Ile-Ife were still working, adding that they were under instruction to be firm and civil in their responsibilities.
”We also call on the good people of Ile-Ife to allow peace reign and we want people to live in peace wherever we find ourselves,” he added.
Afenifere Deputy Leader Pa Fasanmi expressed worry over the lopsided investigation by the police, nothing that all the suspects were Yoruba.
He said: “It is a sensitive matter. We need to find more information about the incident. It is worrisome. I have gone through the list of suspects. They are only Yoruba. We should exercise patience. There is need for more investigation. I will comment later.
(OPC leader Adams flayed the police for what he described as particularly shoddy investigation.
He said the arrest, detention and parade of suspects were skewed.
Adams said the parade of suspects was highly suspicious, wondering why the police were shielding Hausa culprits.
He added: “We are highly disappointed by the outcome of the investigation. A Vulcaniser was beheaded by Hausa. His head was taken round the streets. That snowballed into the communal crisis.
The police claimed that they arrested 28 people. The police released five Hausa and paraded 23 Yoruba as suspects. How can crisis break out in Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba, and all the suspects are indigenes? It is injustice. It is highly condemnable.