Scores of residents, including members of local vigilantes, have been killed in a communal clash at Kajola and Koseru villages in Odigbo LGA of Ondo State.

Peoples Gazette learnt that the incident, which happened at the weekend, resulted in the setting ablaze of several livestocks, plantations and motorcycles. 

The crisis started when a local farmer in one of the villages, Julianah Abejoye, was shot with a dane gun while working on her farm at Ogbontiba, The Gazette learnt.

Ms Abejoye, who was shot by two masked men, sustained heavy injuries on her thigh and arms before she was rushed to a private hospital for treatment.

Sources in the community told The Gazette that a group of local boys came from Aiyetoro in Ilaje LGA of the state fully armed and masked to attack Koseru village.

“In what seems like reprisal attacks, the Aiyetoro boys in their numbers attacked Koseru village with locally made guns and started shooting at people.

“Many lost their lives and some were also injured. The farmers in the villages lost their crops and livestock during the attack which lasted several hours,” one of the locals, who asked that his name be withheld, said in a phone chat. 

Funmilayo Omisanya, Ondo Police spokesperson, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, said peace has gradually returned to the affected villages. 

“Normalcy has returned to Kuseru Village, a community where there was a communal clash,” Mrs Omisanya said in the statement obtained by The Gazette. 

She explained that the police got wind of the attack following reports lodged by the villagers at the Kajola Divisional Police Station. 

“Police contingents were quickly dispatched to the scene while on patrol of the villages, corpses of vigilantes were met at the palace of Bale of Koseru village who were said to have been allegedly ambushed and killed.

“Also, the Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyediran visited the scene, urged all parties involved to sheath their sword and allow police carry out a thorough investigation on what really happened,” the Ondo police spokesperson added. 

She said the police boss ordered the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area to arrest and prosecute culprits involved in the arson and murder.

While allaying the fears of the residents, Mrs Omisanya said that the tactical teams of the command have been deployed to aid the security duties of policemen posted to the troubled communities of Koseru, Aiyetoro and Ago Alafia areas of the state.