By Ayodele Oni
A communal clash between two Ondo communities has claimed the life of two persons. A palace in one of the feuding towns razed.
The fracas is between Ude and Isinigbo communities in the Akure North Local Government Area.
The two communities are now ghosts of themselves as people have fled to safety, leaving behind the debris of desyroyed buildings.
It was gathered that the crisis was trigerred by an alleged move by the traditional ruler of one of the communities to annex land belonging to his neighbour.
The traditional ruler of Ude, Sunday Boboye, is reported to be insisting that his territory extends to Isinigbo and has been harassing residents of the village.
His palace was not spared as people of Isinigbo invaded, vandalised and razed some buildings with the monarch escaping.
Roads leading to both communities were sealed off with bonfires as many shops owners quickly closed and ran for their lives.
It was gathered that members of Isinigbo community trooped out in protest against the Ajagun of Ude for demolishing their houses including buildings belonging to non-indigenes who bought land many years ago.
The Oluomon of Isinigbo, Oluwole Kareem, said they had to protest to stop continued demolition of their buildings by the Ajagun of Ude.
Oluwole said they were surprised when a case the Isinigbo community had won in 2012 was taken to another court by Boboye and judgment was secured.
According to him, the people have been domiciled on the land for the past 800 years.
“Boboye came to us that we are occupying the land illegally. He said he has won the case. He first came and demolished over 50 houses. We protested, but the government did not do anything. His lawyer said he was not aware about the demolition. If he had won the case, he was supposed give us time for dialogue. He did not give us that chance.
“Last Thursday, he went to demolish over 150 buildings. He was bringing thugs and fake policemen. Apart from demolishing our houses, he turned himself to a robber. After demolishing my house, he took my monkey I have been training for the past 15 years. He also took my brother’s goat.
“He has been threatening us. People have bought land here for over 15 years ago. He placed sign post to rename our community the New Ude Estate. Isinigbo has been existing since over 800 years. He want to make our place an extension of Ude.
“We came out for peaceful demonstration to let the government know our plight. The state government should intervene.”
Ondo Police spokesman, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, said nobody was killed in the fracas.
Ikoro confirmed the burning of the Ajagun of Ude’s palace, but said normalcy has been restored, while investigation has commenced into the incident.
