Ikirun kingship tussle turned bloody as one killed, palace razed

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Pandemonium broke out in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government area of Osun State on Wednesday with a middle-aged reportedly shot dead as a result of the lingering dispute over the appointment of the Akirun of Ikirun.

The deceased, identified as Luqman Omoola, was shot when some persons engaged security personnel at the entrance of the palace in an argument.

There had been tension in Ikirun since Oba Yinusa Akadiri was installed as traditional ruler of the town.

The new monarch had been prevented from entering the palace since he was installed by the state government.

Some angry youths in the town had blocked the entrance to the palace with charms, preventing the monarch from using the facility.

The crisis, however, took another dimension on Wednesday morning when policemen appealed to the angry youths to give peace a chance and allow the monarch to gain access to the palace.

It was gathered that the angry youths insisted that the monarch would not be allowed into the palace hence the policemen fired tear gas.

An eyewitness, simply identified as Ismail, told our correspondent that the youths engaged the policemen in shooting and a bullet hit one Lukman who was among the angry youths.

The eyewitness said: “While the shootout was ongoing, some youths went to the back of the palace and entered through the fence to raze it.

“The hoodlums engaged the police in face-to-face gun exchange and people of the town scampered for safety.

“The whole town, particularly Oja-Oba axis was deserted. Travellers going to the Iree-Ila area turned back during the gun duel.”

Efforts to get the spokesperson of the state police command, Yemisi Opalola, proved abortive as calls made to her mobile phone were not answered and text messages sent to her were not replied to.