A violent clash over a chieftaincy dispute in the Esa-Oke community of Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State has reportedly left one person, identified as Clement Ajayi, dead, while several others sustained gunshot injuries.
The conflict erupted following Governor Ademola Adeleke’s appointment of Prince Timileyin Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle, a neighbouring community to Esa-Oke.
However, residents of Esa-Oke opposed the appointment, arguing that the newly installed monarch is an indigene of Ilesa, a distinct entity from Esa-Oke.
A top security source in the community said that tensions escalated when vigilantes, allegedly brought in by the new monarch, were arrested by the police four days ago.
The unrest has since led to heightened security concerns in the area.
The source said: ‘The village head, who has already been installed, was kidnapped over the night. So, early this morning a Hillux vehicle and a Hummer bumper bus drove in and some people dressed like DSS (Directorate of State Service) started shooting toward the police station, but people barricaded them.
‘Some people were even hit with stray bullets. The security personnel were the ones shot because others were not armed’.
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, Superintendent Yemisi Opalola said: ‘We have deployed our men to the community’.
Credit: The Nation
