Obaship Crisis In Ogun Claims At Least 3 Lives, 5 Others Injured
Reports say at least three people were killed, and five others injured, in Agosasa, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State following the crisis over who becomes the traditional ruler of the town.
Recall that the first Oja of Agosasa, Oba James Elegbede, joined his ancestors in February 2022, and since then, there have been tension over who succeeds him as the traditional ruler.
Report said the Obaship Crisis got to its climax on Sunday when the youths of Agosasa took to the streets to warn against the installation of an unpopular candidate as the next Oja.
Anonymous source intimated that “the youths of Agosasa were against the steps allegedly taken by a business tycoon and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Akeem Adigun,(aka) Socopao to install a new king for the town.
Another source hinted, “The intervention of soldiers, policemen and traditionalists helped to stop the crisis on Sunday evening. I could not pass through the town while going home,”
The situation, however, got out of hand on Monday with the murder of one Nafiu Amosun, who was said to be the closest ally to the candidate being supported by the youths of Agosasa.
The angry youths alleged that the said Nafiu Amosun was shot dead near the Afa river by the other faction and this triggered the current chaos in the community.
As of Monday evening, houses and vehicles belonging to Akeem Adigun; a former council Chairman and appointee of Governor Dapo Abiodun, Isiaka Aderounmu and others were set on fire by some angry youths.
According to the source, two more persons were killed, making it a total of three lives lost in the melee.
“At the moment, Agosasa is like a ghost town with heavy presence of soldiers and policemen. Residents are indoors and those who could flee had left the town. Some are running away through the forest. It is getting out of hand,” another source said in confidence.
It was gathered that chiefs and elders of the town are also on the run over fear that their houses might be razed.
Well meaning citizens of Ipokia Local Government have appealed for calm, asking the State Government to take urgent step to restore peace in the town.
“There is war in Agosasa. This is not a joke. The Ogun State Government should stay action on Agosasa obaship issue for now,” an elder advised.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said one person was confirmed to have been shot dead to the best of his knowledge.
“The incident in Agosasa is an obaship tussle. Unfortunately, one person was shot. We learnt that some houses and vehicles were razed. But our men are there on ground. The operation is being led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations. Normalcy has been restored and our men are on ground to forestall further escalation of the crisis,” Oyeyemi said.
The police spokesman disclosed that some arrests have been made, but refused to give further details about those arrested.
He warned that people should not take laws into their hands, and opined that the obaship tussle should have been left for the court to address, saying “we don’t need to shed blood because of obaship titles.”
“If everyone in the town had been killed before the installation, who then, will the Oba to be rule? It doesn’t worth it. Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of anybody. We should learn how to address issues legally instead of toeing the path of violence. It doesn’t pay anybody,” he advised.
