CITIZENS COMPASS–At least, four persons were reportedly killed after some hoodlums invaded and unleashed terror on a community, Ido-Ayegunle, in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State to unleash mayhem.
The incident occurred on Thursday when the hoodlums stormed the community via Esa-Oke, on Thursday morning wielding guns and cutlasses attacking anyone on sight.
Before now, Esa-Oke and Ido-Ayegunle witnessed a crisis in February following a land dispute which led to the destruction of property in the area.
This climaxed on Thursday with the invasion of the hoodlums.
It was gathered that Esa-Oke rejected an imposition of a non-indigene as the traditional leader coupled with the fact that a sitting traditional leader was in place.
The attack saw some of the victims bodies being mutilated by the hoodlums.
When contacted, the Obaala of Ido-Ayegunle, Ibironke Adebusuyi, said the assailants came on motorcycles with a mission to kill and destroy properties.
“Our people were in the community on Thursday embarking on their daily activities when hooded hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded our community, they started shooting. We could recognize some of them. They came from Esa-Oke axis, they came on motorcycles around 10a.m, they surrounded our community, they killed four people in a brutal manner, they cut the head of one of the victims.
“After killing them, the assailants removed the head and heart of some victims before throwing their bodies into a well and used big stones and slabs to cover it. All the people killed were from Ido-Ayegunle”.
“It is a lie that those that strike are Hunters and that those that were killed are hoodlums, it is not an issue of hunter/hoodlum attack at all. We demand that the government and security operatives bring the assailants to justice”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran said the allegation that the attackers were from Esa-Oke was not true, challenging the claimant to bring evidence to that effect.
“Those that claim that the attackers were Esa-Oke should substantiate their claims and bring evidence to support that we plan an attack on them. Esa-Oke is not aware or involved in any crisis in the community”, he said.
Reacting, Osun Police command spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed that the crisis was a result of a prolonged communal dispute in the area, saying that police operatives quickly intervened in the situation but the assailants took to their heel upon sighting policemen.
“Four people were killed in the clash. Some houses were burnt, properties including bikes, generators, streetlights were damaged. The CP visited the place on Friday and we will not relent until the perpetrators are arrested” he said.
