By Sodiq Yusuf
No fewer than three persons were reportedly killed in a bloody clash between members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and a rivalry group, the Oodua Peoples Congress Initiative in Ikoyi, Isokan Local Government of the State of Osun.
One of the persons killed in the clash was a prominent indigene of Ikire, Bolaji Oyeniyi popularly known as Gbajero, who was a native doctor.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the conflict emanated as a result of a petition written against the acclaimed leader of the OPC in the area, Mr. Teslim Raji, popularly called Akerele for allegedly killing a member of the OPCI in Orile-Owu sometimes last year.
Raji was said to have been arrested and detained by the police over the death of the OPCI member, known as Abiodun, who was reportedly the son of a chief in Orile-Owu.
It was gathered that since Raji’s release from detention, there had been a very hostile relationship between the OPC and OPCI members in Ikoyi and Apomu.
The medium reliably gathered that there was a rift between two members of the OPCI identified as Nurudeen Emiola and Ropo Ayantunji and a member of the OPC, Abiodun Ogunjinmi recently.
According to sources, the rift degenerated to free-for-all among the trio at Orita Abiri in Ikoyi on Sunday.
Ogunjimi, the OPC member was said to have been beaten by Ayantunji at C.A.C Primary School, Ikoyi.
Subsequently, Ogunjimi mobilized members of the OPC for a reprisal attack on members of the OPCI at one of their bases, located at Asalu junction within the same community.
Three members of the OPCI were said to have been injured in the attack, which propelled the two groups to declare war on each other’s members.
According to sources, members of both groups were mobilized from Ikire, Ikoyi, Apomu and other neighbouring towns for the attack that occurred in different parts of Ikoyi and lasted till early Monday.
Oyeniyi, a.k.a gbajero, who was already in Ikoyi to attend to a patient was caught by the OPC members, who allegedly unleashed machete cuts on his head.
The other person who reportedly lost his life to the clash was said to be an indigene of Ikoyi, but his name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.
Six members of the two groups were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack in which guns, cutlasses, charms, broken bottles and other weapons were used.
Also, a house belonging to the OPCI leader, simply known as Agbeyangi in Apomu was destroyed. A car parked in front of the house was also vandalized, according to sources.
The OPC soldiers group was reportedly led by Raji known as Akerele.
When contacted, the Coordinator of OPC in the state, Prince Deji Aladesawe, said Raji, who was called the leader of OPC in the area, had been expelled from the group since year 2015, urging security agents to fish out the perpetrators.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the State of Osun, Mrs Yemisi Opalola confirmed the incident to newsmen.
