Two die, scores injured in fresh political clash in Itori
…Residents call on govt. for safety
Panic broke out in the Jaguna area of Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the early hours of Thursday, 14 May 2025, as unidentified gunmen stormed Onigbedu Street, killing two men and leaving several others injured.
Local sources confirmed that the two individuals who lost their lives were recently defected members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who had joined the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The victims, identified as Kafidipe Kolawole and Agbabiaka Sodiq, were reportedly former loyalists of Hon. Chief Obasanyan, a well-known political figure in Itori with a longstanding reputation for wielding considerable influence in the area. Sources claim he is notoriously intolerant of disloyalty within his political circle.
Community members who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity described Hon. Obasanyan as both a political godfather and an alleged land grabber. They accused him and his associates of orchestrating years of violence and intimidation in the Jaguna area and surrounding communities, saying his operations have gone unchecked by authorities for far too long.
One resident alleged, “He has built a syndicate that controls this place like a private kingdom. People live in fear, and nothing is ever done about it.”
This latest incident has intensified fear among residents, who linked it to a growing pattern of politically motivated violence attributed to Hon. Obasanyan’s camp.
It is not the first time such allegations have been levelled against him. Earlier this year, Mrs Kemi Olusegun, the wife of Hon. Samson Olusegun, a former APC councillor and political associate, was allegedly killed in broad daylight by men believed to be affiliated with Obasanyan. Community sources said the murder followed the former councillor’s decision to withdraw from active politics due to repeated excesses within the group.
According to these accounts, the attack on Hon. Olusegun’s residence was meant to send a message. His wife was shot dead during the assault, reportedly as a warning. Following her murder, the former councillor is said to have fled the area for fear of his life.
Following Thursday’s deadly assault, the bodies of Kolawole and Sodiq were taken to the morgue at the General Hospital in Ifo. Those who were injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals across Ewekoro and nearby communities.
Frightened residents are now calling on the police and other security agencies to intervene urgently, saying they can no longer cope with the wave of violence engulfing their neighbourhood.
“We are living in constant fear,” said one resident. “We need help. These killings must stop.”
At the time of filing this report, the Ogun State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
