Again, communal clash claims four in Ondo

Four persons were killed on Friday in a communal clash that occurred at a boundary community linking Akure South and Idanre Local Government Areas of Ondo State.

According to sources, indigenes of the two communities had long been laying claim to a disputed territory identified as Gbalegi.

The clash comes four days after two persons lost their lives in a communal clash that occurred in Iwaro in the Akoko South West Local Council Area of the state on Monday, over an unresolved land dispute.

One of the sources, who requested anonymity, stated that armed thugs in large numbers invaded the Gbalegi community, attacked residents, and killed the victims who tried to resist the attack.

After the deadly clash, the bodies of the victims were taken to a police station within the axis, after which the bodies were moved to the mortuary in Akure, the state capital.

While confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, disclosed that seven persons have been arrested in connection with the clash.

Odunlami-Omisanya, who added that ammunition was recovered, stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Wilfred Afolabi, has called for caution in handling cases relating to boundary issues.

She said, “The Ondo State Police Command received a distress call that a group of thugs mobilised themselves to the Gbalegi area (a disputed land between Akure and Idanre), attacking the people of the said area.

“The police, on receipt of the information, moved to the scene and arrested seven people who were in possession of charms and seven single-barrel guns with a cache of live ammunition and expended ones. The police further combed the nearby bush areas and found four corpses with bullet wounds.

“The CP calls for caution in handling cases related to boundary issues and urges communities involved in land disputes to approach the law court for proper redress rather than resorting to self-help or violence.”