4th January, 2023
By Muftau Ogunyemi
Sporadic gunshots rented the air at Ikare-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North-East Local Government Area in Ondo State, for the second day in a row, sending residents fleeing to safety.
The firing of gunshots began on Tuesday when youths from a part of the town staged a New Year’s carnival.
A resident claimed that two lives had been lost, houses and shops had been razed, and properties worth millions of naira had been destroyed.
“Youths of Okoja area of the town organised a New Year’s carnival on Tuesday at the area’s market square.
“Some people went to disrupt the carnival, however, claiming that the organisers did not obtain approval from the traditional ruler, the Owa-Ale of Ikare.
“They burnt the house of the Olokoja, a high chief of the quarters, and that of another chief, while many shops were razed.
“I have been informed that they are going to my house to burn it, and I don’t know what we people of Okoja Quarters did to deserve this,” he said.
Speaking in an interview, the Owa-Ale of Ikare, Oba Adeleke Adedoyin-Adegbite, said there were no casualties and that he had informed security operatives in the town to ensure peace.
“When the crisis started on Tuesday and I was informed, I called the attention of the Nigeria Police and commander of the Nigerian Army in the town for peace to reign, which was achieved immediately.
“Unfortunately, on Wednesday, some gun-toting people emerged from only God knows where and started shooting sporadically in the direction of a popular junction close to my palace.
“I have called the Nigerian Army and the Police for their intervention. I am appealing to our people, especially our youths, to shun whatever is capable of disturbing the peace in the town,’’ he said.
SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, police spokesperson in Ondo State, confirmed the latest two-day fracas and said no casualty was recorded.
“No casualty whatsoever had been recorded to the best of my knowledge.
“The warring parties have been warned to maintain peace, policemen and soldiers are patrolling the town to ensure law and order within the area,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.
NAN