AraromiOwu/Orile-Owu Crisis: Slain NSCDC officer laid to rest amid tears
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
The slain officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, ShittuWasiuKehinde popularly called Kenwask, has been laid to rest in the presence of a tearful gathering on Wednesday in Osogbo.
The officer was killed by hoodlums while on duty during a communal clash between OrileOwu and AraromiOwu communities in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State on Tuesday.
He was laid to rest according to Muslim rite following a short prayer held in his honour.
The slain NSCDC official’s burial was attended by family members, colleagues, and sympathisers.
It was gathered Kehinde died on the spot while another female officer of the agency who was also at the scene of the incident sustained varying degrees of injuries.
One of the palaces in the affected communities was razed down by hoodlums as peace took flight in the areas.
Residents were thrown into intense panic as others have started relocating from their homes for fear of being attacked.
A security source informed our Correspondent that the communal clash was caused by an Obaship selection tussle.
According to the source, the injured NSCDC officers had been rushed to hospital for treatment.
While providing information about the cause of the crises, a resident of AraromiOwu, who asked not to be mentioned for security reasons, said, “It was caused by a chieftaincy tussle. AraromiOwu is a settlement in Ago Owu in Ayedaade South LCDA.
“The bone of contention is that an indigene of OrileOwu is being made a Baale of AraromiOwu but some settlers, majorly from Ibadan, are opposing the choice of the appointed Baale claiming that they are also entitled to the throne.
“The appointed Baale was at Ilofi (seclusion), where traditional rites were performed on him. But the settlers are insisting that he would not be allowed to reign.”
Confirming the crisis in a statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, KolapoAlimi, said many properties were lost to the violent confrontation.
