An undisclosed number of persons were reportedly injured during a clash that started on Sunday when some youths in the Agosasa community of the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State attacked the monarch of the community, Azeez Akinpelu, over a traditional procession rite.
This is just as the police said no fewer than 18 persons were arrested in connection with the incident which lasted for a few days.
PUNCH Metro gathered that some residents had allegedly fled the community for fear of being caught in the crossfire between the warring parties.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident was the aftermath of a tussle on who would become the next king that ravaged the community about two years ago.
PUNCH Metro had reported on September 14, 2022, that no fewer than three persons reportedly lost their lives during a clash over who would ascend the kingship stool in the community.
It was gathered that the stool became vacant following the death of the first Oja of Agosasa, Oba James Elegbede, sometime in February 2022, and that after Elegbede’s death, the race to determine the person to ascend the throne had caused tension in the community.
During the 2022 clash, youths in the community staged a protest against the installation of a candidate as the next monarch because they claimed a politician in the community was sponsoring the candidate. However, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in 2023, approved the appointment of Akinpelu as the monarch of Agosasa town.
PUNCH Metro learned from a source within the community that the recent clash began when some traditional worshippers were performing some rites but were challenged by the new monarch who allegedly demanded that he should be briefed before traditional rites could be held.
The source, who does not want to be named in print for fear of being caught in the crossfire, disclosed that the order of the new king did not go well with the traditionalists who allegedly threw objects at the king, a move which angered some youths loyal to the king resulting in a free-for-all where some persons sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The source added that upon the escalation of the incident, a police team stormed the community to douse the tension and arrested many people said to be involved in the brawl.
The source said, “Some traditionalists were observing a procession close to the monarch’s palace when they were challenged by the king that they did not get approval from him before observing the traditional rites, and that they should stop if they could not get his permission before doing the traditional rites. Some youths who were at the scene challenged the monarch that he had no right to stop them from proceeding with the rites.
“The following day, the monarch visited the market where he was reportedly attacked by some hoodlums which led to another fracas that degenerated into people being attacked and beaten up. Some people are beginning to leave their houses so that they will not be caught in the brawl.”
When contacted for a reaction on the matter, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said that she had yet to be briefed on the matter.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer privy to the incident told our correspondent that 18 persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. He disclosed that some persons had attacked the monarch who invited the police to restore order in the community. He added that when the police overpowered the persons, they went back to mobilise themselves, setting fire to the road and causing unrest.
“The monarch called the police that they were throwing stones and bottles at his house, and we went there to disperse them, but they went to regroup again. They took to the road and set a bonfire on the road and were looting shops that night but some people who saw them gave us information about who they were.
“We arrested them and moved them to the State CID because the matter cannot be handled at the station. We have mobilised men to the community, including the Army and civil defence officers to restore calm to the community,” the police source said.
Credit: Punch Newspaper
