Some people were hurt during a fight that began on Sunday when some young people in the Agosasa community of the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State attacked the ruler of the community, Azeez Akinpelu, over a traditional procession ritual.
The police said 18 people were arrested in connection with the incident which lasted a few days.
PUNCH Metro It is said that some residents had run away from the community for fear of getting caught in the fighting between the groups.
Our correspondent learned that the incident was the result of a struggle about who would become the next king that troubled the community about two years ago.
PUNCH Metro It was reported on September 14, 2022, that at least three people reportedly died during a fight about who would become the king in the community.
The throne became empty after the death of the first Oja of Agosasa, Oba James Elegbede, around February 2022, and after Elegbede’s death, the competition to decide the person to become the king caused tension in the community.
During the 2022 fight, young people in the community protested against the appointment of a candidate as the next king because they said a politician in the community was supporting the candidate. However, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in 2023, approved the appointment of Akinpelu as the ruler of Agosasa town.
PUNCH Metro It was learned from a source within the community that the recent fight started when some traditional worshippers were performing some rites but were challenged by the new ruler who allegedly demanded that he should be informed before traditional rites could be held.
The source disclosed that the order of the new king did not sit well with the traditionalists who allegedly threw objects at the king, which angered some youths loyal to the king, resulting in a fight where some people got different degrees of injuries.
The source added that when the incident escalated, a police team arrived at the community to calm the tension and arrested many people said to be involved in the fight.
The source said, “Some traditionalists were observing a procession near the ruler’s palace when they were challenged by the king that they did not get permission from him before observing the traditional rites, and that they should stop if they could not get his approval before doing the traditional rites. Some youths who were at the scene challenged the ruler that he had no right to stop them from proceeding with the rites.
“The next day, the ruler visited the market where he was reportedly attacked by some hoodlums which led to another fight that led to people being attacked and beaten up. Some people are beginning to leave their houses so that they will not be caught in the fight.
When contacted for a reaction on the matter, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said that she had yet to be briefed on the matter.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking police officer who knows about the incident informed our reporter that 18 people have been taken into custody in relation to the event. He revealed that some individuals had assaulted the king who had asked the police to restore order in the area. He added that when the police defeated the individuals, they regrouped and set fire to the road, creating disorder.
“The king called the police and informed them that people were throwing stones and bottles at his house. We went there to break up the group, but they gathered again. They went to the road, started a fire, and were stealing from shops that night. However, some people who saw them provided us with information about their identities.
“We detained them and transferred them to the State CID because the situation cannot be handled at the station. We have deployed personnel to the community, including the Army and civil defense officers, to bring peace back to the community,” the police source stated.
