No fewer than 12 people sustained gunshot injuries and a market got burnt in a communal clash that ensued between Ipetumodu and Asipa communities in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun state. Â
It was gathered that the fresh crisis started on Wednesday when the youths of Asipa and Ipetumodu had a fight at an Inter house sport competition at Community High School, Ipetumodu.
On Thursday night, some unidentified youths were said to have burnt down Akinola Market, the commercial center of Ipetumodu community and fired several gunshot into the air to scare people away from the scene.
An eyewitness account who is a resident of Asipa community disclosed that so many people were injured in the clash and they have been taken to the hospital for treatment.
When our correspondent contacted one of the Chiefs of Ipetumodu community, Chief Adedeji Asalu, he alleged that “the people of Asipa community were behind the clash that ensued our community starting from the school riot and the clash that led to the burning down of our market.”
The chief further stated that “nine people from our community were shot by them(Asipa community) and this is not their first time they will be attacking us, they have attacked us several times.”
Also, when the Chief of Asipa community, Chief Julius Ogerinde was contacted on phone on Friday about the crisis allegedly caused by his community, he pointed accusing finger on the people of Ipetumodu.
He said that “The Ipetumodu community are grieved because the White Paper issued by the State Government on land dispute favoured us.
“They only used the avenue of the Inter house Sport competition to perpetrate their evil and vent their anger and three of our people were shot.”
When the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folashade Odoro was contacted, she confirmed the clash and said peace has returned to the two communities.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
