Several Wounded as Two Ekiti Towns Clash over Boundary Dispute
Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti Two neighbouring towns, Oye and Ilupeju Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State are now embroiled in serious communal clash over a longdrawn land dispute, leading to several persons sustaining high degree of injuries.
The crisis, which had been looming yesterday, snowballed into a serious clash, as the youths of the two communities were said to have used dangerous weapons with some casualties reportedly taken to the hospital.
The crisis, which paralysed commercial activities in the two communities, had also heightened tension as at press time. It was learnt that some arrests have been made on both sides, being effort made by the police to bring the sordid situation under control.
Sources confirmed that Saturday’s clash was said to have been caused by commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders in both communities over payment of dues and right to ply some routes.
The clash was said to have disrupted free flow of traffic on the Ifaki-Oye-Ikole-Omuo Highway which is plied by vehicles going to and coming from the North and Abuja.
Eyewitness revealed that vehicles coming from Lagos, Kwara, Osun and heading for Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had to turn back when some hoodlums reportedly cashed in on the fight to unleash terror.
Many residents who couldn’t flee the scene were said to have shut themselves indoors while the melee lasted. Police vehicles were seen on the streets evacuating the injured to the hospital.
A police source who confirmed the incident said the relationship between the two towns has been frosty for years now on account of a boundary dispute. The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity explained further that the issue has been causing periodic break down of law and order.
This he said snowballed into a free-for-all fight, causing people to scamper for safety as the riders brandished several dangerous weapons and engaged themselves in gun battles.
Effortstogetan official reaction from the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alberto Adeyemi, were not successful at press time as he did not answer calls put across to his phone. Adeyemi had not also responded to text messages sent to him at the time of filing this report.