Ten injured, market torched in another Osun communal clash
Few days after the violent clash between hausa and yoruba communities in Ile-Ife which claimed many lives and property destroyed, another communal clash broke out yesterday in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun during which no fewer than ten persons sustained injuries. The fresh clash Saturday Vanguard gathered was between the people of Ipetumodu and Asipa in Ife north area of the State. clash The crisis according to an eyewitness account was said to have started on Wednesday evening shortly after alleged misunderstanding that broke out aftermath of inter house sports football competition in the Community High School Ipetumodu, not far away from Asipa.
The fight allegedly involved youths from both communities. It was further gathered that some unidentified youths took the advantage of the face off between the students and set ablaze the popular Akinola Market in Asipa a development that escalated the crisis between the two communities.
It will be recalled that the establishment of Akinola Market on the disputed portion of land had sparked off crisis last year in the area before the state government intervention. It was further learnt that gun shots were fired into the air to heighten tension in the area. Though some policemen had been drafted to the area to maintain law and order, it was gathered that no fewer than ten persons sustained injuries.
One of the traditional chiefs who did not want his name in print laid the blame on Asipa community alleging that the other community turned a mere school riot to community clash to burn the market. He also alleged that this was not the first time that such attack would be carried out against his people.
But a leader of Asipa community, Mr Julius Ogerinde denied the allegation saying that they were aggrieved because of the government white paper on the disputed land which favoured the other community. “ They only use the avenue of the Inter house Sport competition to perpetrate their grievances and three of our people were shot”.
When the Police Public Relation Officer, Mrs. Folashade Odoro was contacted she confirmed the clash and said the policemen had been drafted to the area to maintain law and order. She said that normalcy has since returned to the area.
