Fresh communal clash breaks out in Osun over land control

Violence has reportedly erupted in Egbedi community, Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State over land dispute and control.

Trouble broke out when some hoodlums allegedly from Iloba and Ede boundary communities stormed Egbedi and repeatedly unleashed mayhem on the community.

Sources in the community informed The Guardian that the armed invaders arrived in the community at 4:30 pm on Thursday and started shooting residents of the community.

One of the Chiefs of Egbediland simply identified as Baba Kekere, told our correspondent that, “Some people from Erin-Osun, Iloba and Ede communities stormed Egbedi and started shooting at our people.

“I heard that they are attacking us because of some parcels of land in our community in which they want to install another monarch from Ede to be ruling over.

“The DPO led a team of policemen to the area in the evening but there is still pandemonium in the community and people are afraid.”

Another source from the palace of Elegbedi of Egbedi explained that the crisis was about an attempt by the Ede traditional ruler to allegedly install an Oba on the land of Egbedi.

The source said, “There is trouble in our community. Ede people in Iloba, a community that shares boundary with us want to install another Oba in that community.

“The land in question is between Egbedi and Erin-Osun and it is called Iloba. We have been on this issue since yesterday. The issue we have now is that the land belongs to Egbedi and there cannot be two monarchs in the community.

“They want to install the traditional ruler tomorrow (Friday) and that is why they have been attacking us.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, could not be reached on the telephone as her number was not reachable as at the time of this report.

There have been pockets of clashes in some parts of the state over land boundaries and control.

The people of Ifon-Osun and Ilobu communities are still in crisis despite the state government’s intervention.

Similarly, Esa-Oke and Ido Ayegunle communities have experienced loss of lives and property to violence over land disputes.