No fewer than four persons have been killed in a renewed hostility over a boundary dispute between Esa Oke and Ido Ayegunle communities of the Obokun Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, The Guardian has reliably gathered.

It is recalled that in February, about four persons had been killed when violence erupted between the two communities over the appointment of Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the traditional ruler of Ido Ayegunle.

However, fresh violence broke out on Thursday around 10:00 a.m. after suspected hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons allegedly attacked Ido Ayegunle, culminating in the gruesome killing of another four individuals while many others were critically injured.

During the attack, houses, shops, generators and other valuable property, including motorcycles, were razed by the hoodlums, leaving residents fleeing to avoid being caught up in the melee.

Speaking on the incident, the Obanla of Ayegunle, Ibironke Adebusuyi, said, “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 recognise some of them. They came from Esa-Oke axis. They came on motorcycles around 10:00 am, they surrounded our community, they killed four people in a brutal manner and cut the head off 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 ensure that those people are brought to book, “she said.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ido Ayegunle, Oba Timileyin Ajayi, called on the state government and security agencies to act swiftly in order to avoid a repeat of the violence, saying, “This is a serious threat to our peace and safety. We are peaceful people and cannot defend ourselves against this level of violence. The government must intervene now.”

However, the Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Akanbi, who denied that the attackers were from his domain, said, if they can substantiate their allegation, they should prove where we met to plan it; my own is that I know nothing about the attack.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Osun State command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, disclosing that four people were killed during the attack.

He stated, “It is long-time boundary matter, it is continuation of the previous clash, the people have not relented and we have not relented. As at yesterday when it happened, the police swift into action, our men went to the scene, but when the perpetrators saw our men, they took to their heels.

“The CP visited the place today; we are just coming back now. Four people were killed in the clash those four people, probably it was because of the delayed they had before they took them to the hospital that caused the their death. Some house where burnt, properties including bikes, generators, streetlights were damaged.”