Seven policemen shot in fresh Osun communal clash

There was pandemonium in the Esa Oke community of Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State on Monday when seven policemen were allegedly shot by unidentified gunmen while responding to a distress call regarding a fresh clash over a chieftaincy matter.

Though some residents of the community, who pleaded anonymity, informed The Guardian that the attackers were clad in black attire and conveyed in a bus, others hinted that they were allegedly hired by individuals involved in a dispute over the appointment of a traditional ruler for Ido Ajegunle.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Osun State Police Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, explained that the police operatives were on their way to Esa Oke when the incident occurred.

She stated, “Seven police operatives were shot. One of them was hit in the neck. They were going to Esa Oke when they ran into a barricade. They alighted and were removing the barricade when some people started firing at them. One of them was hit in the neck. But we have deployed more men to the area.”

It is recalled that the Osun State government had last Wednesday appointed a United Kingdom-based information telecommunication expert, Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi, as the Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle. The village is located between Ijebu Jesa and Esa Oke.

However, tension built up shortly after his appointment as some residents of Esa Oke, who claimed Ido Ajegunle was a village under Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, embarked on a protest, contending that the newly appointed royal father is an indigene of Ilesa.

Meanwhile, violence broke out on Monday when some people traveling in a bus, heading towards the Esa Oke Police Divisional Office, reportedly shot at some residents.

Footage of the incident sighted by our correspondent showed about five people with blood stains after allegedly being shot by the gunmen.

Speaking about the development, a resident, simply identified as Dele, said: “Those that shot the people are suspected hoodlums traveling in a bus. They were heading towards the Esa Oke Police Divisional Headquarters on Monday when they fired shots at people.

“The shooting is not unconnected to the appointment of an indigene of Ilesa as the new monarch for Ido Ajegunle, a village under Esa Oke. There was protest by Esa Oke indigenes after the state government made the announcement.”

Also commenting on the attack, spokespersons for the Osun State Amotekun Corps, Yusuf Idowu, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kehinde Adeleke, hinted that their organizations had already deployed operatives to the scene.