POLICEMEN INJURED IN OSUN COMMUNITY CLASH, NINE ARRESTED

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The Osun State Police Command has confirmed that seven of its personnel have been injured as bloody clashes erupted in Esa-Oke on Monday.

Confirming the incident in voice message on Monday afternoon, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, disclosed that the officers sustained gunshots when they were ambushed while on their way to the affected community.

Channels Television gathered that crisis erupted early hours on Monday morning in Ido-Ayegunle over chieftaincy disagreement.

Ido-Ayegunle, it was revealed, is a town located between Esa-Oke and Ijebu-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the dispute had started over the weekend, and it finally snowballed into a communal crisis on Monday as indigenes of the town alleged that the monarch was from Ilesa.

Opalola, however, did not mention the cause of the crisis that engulfed the community on Monday morning.

She said, “Immediately the police command was informed of the crisis in Obokun area Command of Osun State, precisely at Esa-Oke, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba, drafted police personnel form different formations to go to the place and ensure that calm is brought to that area.

“When they got to a point on their way, very close to Esa-Oke, they encountered a roadblock with a log of wood which hindered passage. Some policemen alighted form their vehicles to roll away the log of wood so that they can pass to where they were headed to.

“As they alighted, they were gunshots from the bush around the area which injured seven personnel. They responded and fired back in the direction from where the gunshot was heard.

“Two of the gunmen were later arrested. We are working assiduously to ensure that we arrest all the perpetrators of this criminal activity.

“The police personnel that were injured are recuperating at the hospital now. This is the latest update.”

Nine people have been arrested in Connection with the Community Clash.