From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Four persons have been confirmed dead in a renewed clash between Esa-Oke and Ido-Ayegunle in Obokun Local Government of Osun State.
The two communities had been at loggerhead since January 30, 2025, when the hostility began and Governor Ademola Adeleke intervened, promising to settle the dispute.
The panel constituted by the governor submitted its findings early June and the government promised to issue a white paper on the communal clash.
But, problem started on Thursday evening when the communities renewed their hostilities and killed four people with some houses and properties destroyed.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, saying that four persons were killed in the clash.
He explained that the clash started overnight on Thursday where some houses were burnt, properties including bikes, generators, streetlights were damaged.
Ojelabi disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had visited the communities on Friday, saying that “Nobody has been arrested over the matter but we have recovered some things that could help in our investigation and we are on it, by God’s grace those people that perpetrated the act will be made to face the full wrath of law.”
The Obanla of Ido Ayegunle, Ibironke Adebusuyi, alleged that the assailants came from Esa-Oke around 10pm and killed four people in the community.
“Our people were in the community yesterday (Thursday) doing their normal activities when hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded our community. They started shooting, they covered their faces but we could recognize some of them.
“They came from Esa-Oke axis, they came on motorcycles around 10 pm, they surrounded our community, they killed four people in a brutal manner, they cut the head of one of them.
“After killing them, they threw them inside the well and used big stones and slabs to cover them. All those people killed were from Ido Ayegunle.
“We demand that the government should ensure that those people are brought to book.
“It is a lie that those that strike are hunters and that those that were killed are hoodlums. It is not issue of hunter/hoodlum attack at all.
“Two days, the Owamiran was threatening brimstone, calling the Area Commander, he threatened the DPO too. I was informed too about it. We have never attacked the Esa Oke at all,” Adebusuyi said.
But, the Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, said he did not know anything about the attack, saying “If they can substantiate their allegation, they should proof where we met to plan it, my own is that I know nothing about the attack.”