Gunmen attack Ondo community, chase monarch out of palace

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Gunmen attack Ondo community, chase monarch out of palace

Residents of Atijere community in the Ilaje Local Government Area, LGA, of Ondo State were Tuesday thrown into confusion as the traditional ruler, Oba Samuel Edema, was chased out of his palace by some armed men.

The Punch reports that the hoodlums are suspected to have come from the neighboring community of Makun-Omi in Ogun State following a communal clash between the two communities.

The clash saw many residents deserting their homes while some were injured.

The two communities share a common boundary but had been laying claims to the ownership of a piece of land which has reportedly been causing ceaseless crisis.

The Ondo state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident, Wednesday, saying the command had deployed men in the area to restore peace.

Also, the National Boundary Commission was said to have intervened in the crisis before a fresh crisis erupted on Tuesday.

Narrating the incident, the traditional ruler said, “I escaped being killed by the armed men sponsored by a local government chairman in Ogun State.

“I was guided out of the town by some of my subjects through the waterways.

“As I am talking to you now, I am hiding in one of the communities in the coastal area, while our people have been displaced. We are calling on the government and security operatives to come to our aid before it is too late.

“We invited the officials of the boundary commission and they fixed a meeting between the two communities where it was resolved that the commission will meet with us on Monday, before the hoodlums struck on Tuesday, but because of the Ondo State governorship election, we called for the postponement of the meeting.”

Oba Edema, however, called on the state police command and the state government to come to their aid.