The police in Ondo, on Thursday, confirmed the arrest of one suspect in the violent clash that occurred in Ikare Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state following a breach of peace in the town. 

This came a few hours after governor Rotimi Akeredolu declared a 24-hour dawn-to-dusk curfew on the troubled town caused by some aggrieved youths.

Oyeyemi Oyediran, Ondo police commissioner who confirmed the arrest, decried the level of damage done by the indigenes of the town. 

“One suspect has been arrested in connection with the case,” Mr Oyediran hinted after meeting the two monarchs of the crisis-ridden town. 

Ikare Akoko, one of the popular commercial hubs in Ondo, has witnessed a violent clash in the past three days with many residents scampering for safety. 

Several residents caught in the crisis claimed that properties worth millions of naira which included shops and houses were destroyed. 

The melee started on Tuesday when some youths from a part of the town staged a New Year carnival, forcing the government to close down the town for any unauthorised human movement and activity until further notice. 

The town had been embroiled in supremacy battles between the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, and the Owa Ale of Iyometa, Oba Adeleke Adedoyin-Adegbite, the two traditional rulers in the town, over the years on boundary issues. 

The issue was further compounded last year August when the Ondo government elevated the Owa-Ale to the status of a first-class traditional ruler, making the town have two first-class obas.

Speaking, Mr Oyediran said the two traditional rulers needed to call their subjects to order and preach peace by living in unity and togetherness. 

He said the command has also deployed men of the tactical team as reinforcement to beef up security in the community to maintain calmness. 

Mr Oyediran appealed to the people of the state not to take laws into their hands or resort to self-help but rather channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

“Report criminal cases to law enforcement agencies or seek redress in the court of law,” he added. 

While commiserating with the people who lost their personal/family property to this incident, the Ondo police boss assured that other masterminders of the crisis would be apprehended and brought to book.  

He, however, advised the two monarchs to seek the intervention of relevant authorities and the government on issues bordering on boundaries in the town. 

Earlier, the two monarchs appreciated the police boss for his timely intervention and his neutrality in maintaining law and order in the town. 

They, however, promised to talk to their people and maintain peace.