We’re on top of the situation, say PoliceTwo people were reportedly, while others sustained injuries, following a clash among residents of Koseru community in Odigbo Local Council of Ondo State over ownership of land in the area.
The Guardian learnt that crisis erupted when a middle-aged woman, Julianah Abejoye, an indigene of Ikale land, was shot on her farm, by two unidentified persons.
The incident was said to have infuriated youths of Ikale extraction in the community, who in their numbers allegedly set ablaze a motorcycle park and destroyed farmlands in the area.
According to sources, there had been an age-long fighting over ownership of the land in Koseru between a family in Ikale, Okitipupa Council Area and Oyo and Osun state farmers living in the community.
When contacted on the incident, spokesperson for Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Omisanya, disclosed that normalcy had returned to the agrarian community after police operatives were drafted to the community.
She disclosed that manhunt for those behind the deadly clash had been launched.She said: “On December 10, 2022, at about 1000hrs, in what seemed to be a reprisal attacks, Aiyetoro Boys in their numbers, attacked Kuseru Village, set ablaze the motorcycle park, killed livestock, destroyed motorcycles and cut down plantain trees.
“Police contingents were quickly dispatched to the scene, while on patrol of the villages, corpses of vigilantes were seen at the palace of Bale of Kuseru Village, who were said to have been allegedly ambushed and killed.
“The Commissioner of Police (CP), Yemi Oyediran, visited the scene, urged all parties involved to sheath their sword and allow police carryout a thorough investigation on what really happened.
“The CP is also using this medium to allay fears of residents around Koseru, Aiyetoro and Ago Alafia and Ondo State at large that nothing untoward will happen to them as adequate security is emplaced to ensure a hitch free celebration during this period.”
Also confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Adetunji Adeleye, said a vigilante member and one other person were killed in the fracas.
