Scores injured as fresh violence erupts in Osun communities

Fresh violence broke out among the people of Oba- Ile and Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State on Friday. There were counter claims about how the fresh trouble started but a source within Oba-Oke told our correspondent on the telephone that some youths in Oba- Ile invaded Oba-Oke and beat up some people.
This was said to have angered the people of Oba-Oke who mobilised and stormed Oba-Ile for revenge. But Oba-Ile residents claimed that the people of Oba-Oke started the trouble. The disagreement, it was learnt led to a fierce fight where weapons were freely used by both sides. Scores of residents from both sides were said to have been injured in the ensuing melee. A resident, who fled the scene, told our correspondent that policemen had been deployed to the two communities to bring the situation under control.
It was not immediately known if there was any loss of life in the clash but some residents of the two towns expressed apprehension on the conditions of some of those injured. The Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Folasade Odoro, confirmed the fresh clash to our correspondent on the telephone. She, however, added that the situation had been brought under control.
The PPRO said, "The command has been able to restore normalcy in the area and investigation is ongoing." It will be recalled that the residents of the two neighbouring communities had engaged in a bloody clash in October. The October clash which led to the destruction of many houses in the area led to the the burning of the palace of the Oloba of Oba-Oke, Oba Dahunsi Iyiola. Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, had imposed a curfew from 6pm to 6am on the two communities at the time.
The new Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 11, Mr. David Omojola, visited the two communities in November on resumption of duty and held meetings with the traditional rulers of the two communities. The monarchs assured the AIG who was in company with the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, that they would allow peace to reign.