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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Five policemen were feared killed while scores were injured during a fracas that broke out at Esa-Oke in Obokun Local Government of Osun State, following the appointment of a King by the state government.
Pandemonium broke out in the town, yesterday morning, when the people of the town attempted to resist the installation of Timileyin Ajayi as the new Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle, a community under Esa-Oke.
Daily Sun gathered that the community had a village head appointed by Owamiran of Esa-Oke before the announcement of Ajayi,who was said to hail from Ilesa, by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The community had attempted to resist the installation of Ajayi whom they considered as a stranger, when some men in police uniform started shooting and killed four persons.
A resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said,” Five policemen were killed and seven other officers were seriously injured. Many other people were killed and others injured. Many of us would have been victims,but we ran for safety. We don’t know our fate because this one that policemen have been killed,I don’t know who is going to protect us. It is a terrible situation. But why would people attack the police who were coming to maintain peace?. We are in a dilemma. Some of us have started moving to nearby communities “.
Speaking with Journalists, a representative of Esa-Oke Central Union, Oladiti Awodiran, said,“men in police uniform invaded Esa-Oke community and started shooting sporadically leading to the death of no fewer than four youths while several others were wounded in the mayhem.
“The pandemonium broke out as a result of the announcement by Governor Ademola Adeleke that a stranger has been appointed as Oba or Baale in a community within Esa-Oke town.
“The Esa-Oke community had in the past vehemently resisted the attempt to install an Oba or Baale in the community as the said settlement is right inside Esa-Oke town a few meters to the campus of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke.
“To us, the appointment of a Baale or Oba on another town’s territory negates all logic, tradition and history. Esa-Oke is in Ijesa North Federal constituency. The settlement, Ido Ajegunle on which a monarch was appointed by Owa of Ilesa is Unit eleven, a polling station under Esa-Oke,” Awodiran said.
Osun state police public relations officer, Yemisi Opalola, said police operatives have been deployed to restore peace, saying that seven policemen were shot when they arrived the community.
She said,”When we heard that there was crisis in the community, we deployed our men to the communities, then they were ambushed.
The policemen were trying to clear the trees that they fell on their path when they were ambushed. Bullet hit one of them on the neck,” Opalola said.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the situation as ‘unfortunate,’ saying that security operatives have been drafted to the town.
“The situation of disruption in Esa-Oke, it is quite unfortunate, we receive the news with great and huge shock, however, security agencies have been drafted to the place which they have restored peace and calm.
“Security operative have been directed to investigate the situation to identify the root cause of the matter and brought to books all culprits.
“The governor has ordered all the parties concerned to remain calm, while we dig deep to the root cause of the situation. We sympathize with all the victims that were affected. We promise them that justice will be done to their case.”
