Nurudeen Emiola vs Abiodun Ogunjimi: A clash on Monday, between two factions of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), in Osun State, has claimed life of one person, with many others injured by different degrees.
The fight at Ikoyi community in Isokan Local Government Area of the State caused panic in the area but many residents said the fight was no longer strange to them.
They said fighting amongst the groups had become regular. A resident of the community told DailyTrust correspondent, adding that a young man, Bolaji Owolewa, was killed during the last clash.
He said the remains of the deceased has been taken to the mortuary by policemen.
Three others were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury and were treated at Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Apomu on Sunday.
The clash, according to an eyewitness, started with an argument between a member of Odua Peoples Congress Initiative, Nurudeen Emiola and a member of Odua Peoples Congress, Abiodun Ogunjimi.
A resident said, “The two men fought on Sunday at the playground of CAC Primary School, Ikoyi.”
Apparently displeased after the fight, Ogunjinmi allegedly mobilised members of the OPC and attacked those of OPCI at their base at Asalu Junction later in the day.
The two groups, it was further learnt, also mobilised men from Ikire, Apomu and other neighbouring towns and used weapons during clashes that occurred in different parts of Ikoyi and lasted till early Monday.
“Cutlasses and many weapons were freely used by members of the two groups. Many people were injured,” an eyewitness said.
The Osun State Coordinator of OPC, Prince Deji Aladesawe, said Akerele, who was called the leader of OPC in the area, had been expelled from the group since year 2015, urging security agents to fish out the perpetrators.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that three persons were injured while one life was lost during the clashes.
Opalola said, “Around 6pm on Sunday, there was a clash between OPC and a breakaway faction called OPCI in Ikoyi. Four persons; Niyi Odewale, Tajudeen Adebayo, Oyeniran Ajagbe and Bolaji Owolewa were injured and rushed to Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Apomu.”
“Owolewa later gave up the ghost and his corpse has been deposited in the morgue of the hospital. Normalcy had been restored to the area.”
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Undie Adie, while also confirming the incident said peace has been restored in the area and that normalcy has returned.
