At least two persons were confirmed dead, while an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was reportedly hit by a bullet in a gun battle that reportedly involved two communities, Orile Owu and Araromi Owu, in the Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State.
Scores of people were also reportedly injured in the incident.
According to an eyewitness account who identified himself as Adebayo, the development led to the burning of part of a building at the Olowu of Owu’s palace.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the pandemonium is yet to be ascertained, but it was learned that the hoodlums had taken over some strategic areas of the town while residents ran helter-skelter for safety.
Dangerous weapons like guns, cutlasses, knives, clubs, broken bottles, and others were freely used to kill, maim, and inflict various degrees of injury on themselves.
It was gathered that the fracas further led to the destruction of properties and the beating up of some residents of the community who were trapped in the troubled scene.
Meanwhile, all activities in the communities had been grounded to a halt as traders, road users, and inhabitants of the two towns vacated the hearts of the towns for their different abodes so as not to be victims of the unpleasant circumstances.
Investigations revealed that the remains of the dead had been taken to a hospital mortuary, while those injured had been taken to an unknown hospital for medical attention.
When contacted, the senior adviser to the Osun state governor on security matters, Me. Samuel Ojo, confirmed the story and gave the number of casualties to be two.
He said, “I have directed all commanders to draft their men into the community. We have been on it for the past three, four days; we never knew it would snowball into this situation.”.
” So, all the service commanders have been informed accordingly to draft their men to the place immediately as directed by Mr Governor”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement by the OSUN state government through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo, Kolapo Alimi, the government said, “Based on the communal clash between Orile Owu and Araromi Owu communities in Ayedaade Local Government, which had led to the loss of properties, Osun State Government has called for calm in the two communities.”
“On the same premise, Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved and directed that security operatives should immediately be stationed in the areas and protect the communities by maintaining law and order. ”
The Commissioner stressed that Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for calm between the Orile Owu and Araromi Owu communities in the Ayedaade local government area of Osun State.
“He also announced that the Government has ordered that the chieftaincy selection process, which caused the communal clash, be henceforth suspended. ”
“Governor Ademola Adeleke has also directed the Special Adviser on Security, Mr Ojo, to mobilise security operatives to the towns to maintain law and order, and that anyone caught not abiding by the law is to be arrested and prosecuted appropriately.”
“The government has the duty of protecting the lives and properties of the people of Araromi Owu and Orile Owu in Ayedaade local government, hence directing that any act or movement contrary to peace and which may lead to breakdown of law and order in the communities is not acceptable.”
“The government particularly commiserates with the families of those who lost their properties in the communal clash and adds that the rift will be duly investigated.”
“The government reiterates that peace is germane in every environment and assures Osun residents of security while also calling for the support of residents and urging everyone to embrace peace.”