The police command in Osun State has confirmed that six persons lost their lives in the crisis over the control of local government secretariats in the state on Monday.

The crisis erupted between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the Court of Appeal judgement sacking of APC council chairmen and councillors.

The PDP claimed that the February 10 judgement of the Court of Appeal did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 202 but the APC insisted on their return.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Yemisi Opalola, on Tuesday in Osogbo.

Ms Opalola said that several people also sustained injuries during the crisis.

She, however, said that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had deployed mobile policemen to the state to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.

Ms Opalola said that the mobile police, deployed from other states, arrived on Monday.

She said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Abba, ordered a thorough investigation into the crisis, with a promise that perpetrators would be prosecuted.

She said, “The event of yesterday left six people dead and many people hospitalised. We are not happy with what happened. We expressed deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives and property.’’

Ms Opalola, who urged residents of the state to remain calm, said that the police would continue to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

She warned those fuelling trouble in the state to desist from the act, saying that Osun was known for peace and the police would not allow anyone to disrupt peace in the state.

She said, “The command will leave no stone unturned to achieve peace. Let us give peace a chance.’’

(NAN)