Tension in Osun community as Police nab 11 suspects over arson, attempted murder

Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo

Osun State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects over alleged arson, attempted murder and willful destruction of properties in Aye town, Ejigbo Local Government Area.

It was gathered that there was palpable tension in Ara town over a disputed land between the community and one Mr Jacob Ayoola.

Ayoola had reportedly written a petition to the police against the community over the said land.

The issue escalated when a group volunteered to build a mosque for the town and, to support the project, the community monarch, Oba Mathew Ajala directed workers to use gravel on disputed land for the construction, a directive resisted by Ayoola.

It was learnt that the disputed land belongs to a former governor in Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. The land was also said to have shared boundary with that of Ayoola.

When the gravel was about to be taken from the land, Ayoola was said to have kicked against it, claiming that the portion of the land, in which the gravel would be taken, belongs to him.

To this effect, Ayoola was said to have petitioned the AIG’s office at Zone XI in Osogbo before some policemen were deployed to the area.

The Policemen visited the disputed land alongside the brother of the monarch, Gbenga and Ayoola and while discussion was ongoing, Gbenga slumped and died on the spot.

This development infuriated the youths of the community who protested Gbenga’s mysterious death and accused Ayoola of killing him with charms that he had already buried on the land.

For this, Ayoola was said to have petitioned the AIG’s office in Osogbo before some Policemen stormed the community on March 13, 2021 and started shooting sporadically and attacking some youths.

About 11 persons were said to have been arrested and assaulted by the police.

In a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola on Sunday, said in the course of arresting the suspects in connection with the case, policemen were attacked and a police sergeant was attacked with cutlass.

She said, while the police officer who was injured on his right arm fell down and groaning in pains, the attacker escaped into the bush.

“Consequent upon the attack, the policemen retired to the office with the arrested suspects, while the injured was taken to the hospital for treatment. Thereafter, information had it that a dead body was found in the bush, suspected to be the fleeing one.”

According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode appealed to the people of the State to promptly report their matter to the police as there are proper ways to channel grievances, rather than taking laws into their hands.

He urged the good people of the state to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the state Command as he assured justice and fairness in the matter, and in all cases under investigation and as well condole with the family of the victim.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Aye community, Oba Matthew Ajala and some of his subjects have accused the Osun State Police of killing of two persons over a land dispute that has generated tension in the community.

Aside the two deaths allegedly caused by the police, another person, Gbenga, said to be a brother to the monarch , died when he visited the disputed land.

Oba Ajala and some residents of the community accused police of killing the prince and the youth during attempt to make arrest over the crisis that the land dispute generated, Gbenga was said to have slumped and died diabolically on the disputed land.

Speaking, the monarch said: “I have been shattered. My son and brother were killed. My son was killed by gunshots fired by the police when they came to arrest some of my subjects. They beat my subjects with cutlass, at least about three of them sustained injuries. This can’t be swept under the carpet. Justice must be served.

“The police invaded my town, and started brutalising my people. They claimed it’s on the invitation of Jacob Ayoola who they said accused those who were later arrested of setting his house ablaze. You can see the house they claimed it was set ablaze, there is nothing of such.

“He (Ayoola) tricked the police into believing that his house was set ablaze. Surprisingly, instead of the police to investigate the matter to confirm and verify the claim, they invaded my community and started unleashing terror on my subjects.

“I want the state government under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola to come to my aid, the AIG should come to my rescue. The killers of my son should be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

“They killed my son, after they have lured my younger brother (Gbenga) to the farm where he was diabolically killed in the presence of policemen,” the monarch claimed.