18th September, 2023
Gunmen led by a man simply identified as Naim gruesomely killed a young man, Ibrahim Qudus at the palace of Olokanla of Okanla in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State on Sunday.
The gunmen then proceeded to put his remains inside a car parked at the palace, then set it ablaze alongside the building before leaving.
Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson for Osun State Police Command confirmed the incident.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Kehinde Longe, had visited the scene of the crime and deployed more operatives to the area.
“Someone was burnt with a car around Okanla, the area is between Ifon and Ilobu. We have deployed our men to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order. The Commissioner of Police has visited the scene,” Opalola stated.
“He was killed and they put his corpse in my car parked within the premises and set the vehicle ablaze. They also set the palace ablaze. The reason behind the attack is not known to me. But it may not be unconnected to the tussle over land in our area. The family is pleading with the security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this crime are apprehended,” the Osun police command spokesperson said.
However, an uncle to the deceased, Jimoh Qadri, claimed that the gunmen were after him.
Jimoh told Punch that the gunmen first went to his house and it was when they couldn’t get him that they decided to the palace.
He added that his wife who was at home when the gunmen stormed his residence told him that the gunmen numbering about 20 covered their faces, but one of them bearing Naim did not cover his face.
He said the gunmen searched around his house and when they could not find him, they vandalised the building before proceeding to his family house used by his late father, Olokanla of Okanla as his palace.
“It was there they saw Qudus, a son to my elder brother, who was living in Ibadan, until he recently returned home to seek university admission, after writing UTME.
“He was killed and they put his corpse in my car parked within the premises and set the vehicle ablaze. They also set the palace ablaze. The reason behind the attack is not known to me. But it may not be unconnected to the tussle over land in our area.
“The family is pleading with the security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this crime are apprehended,” he said.
Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke, had on Sunday evening imposed a curfew on Ilobu and Ifon communities to enforce law and order in the area.
Osun Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, said the communal clash between Ilobu and Ifon communities was due to a land dispute.
“Based on this, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed that curfew begins immediately in the two local governments: Orolu and Irepodun local governments.
“The curfew will start between the hours of 8pm every night, and 6am in the morning. Human and vehicular movement is hereby restricted during the curfew till further notice,” the statement indicated.