Pandemonium has brewed in Egbedore local government area of Osun State on Friday, as angry residents beat the newly installed Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya while attempting to observed the jumat service in the area.
According to report, the monarch had last week turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community.
While gathering some people at his palace to observe jumat prayer, some youths allegedly from Ido-Osun invaded the palace and disrupted the prayer
The aggrieved residents while shouting at the monarch queried his authority to install and conduct jumat prayer in a domain belonging to a separate monarch.
They claimed the monarch had no right to install a chief Imam in the community.
The mob beat the monarch seriously and vandalised the palace before security operatives could intervene in the situation.
A source in the area, who craved anonymity for security reasons, however, said some youths from Ido-Osun, who felt aggrieved over the installation, staged a protest against it, which later turned violent.
“The protest however turned violent. Part of the palace was vandalised and the monarch was injured.
“The youths from Ido Osun did not want the monarch to install an Imam there because the area is under Ido Osun. Security agents have taken over the premises of the palace,” the source said.
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, while reacting to the development in a statement signed by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, frowned at the resort to self-help by some elements within the Ido Osun community.
He stated that the State Commissioner of Police had been directed to secure the troubled areas and arrest the ringleaders of the violent actions.
He further directed the Olojudo of Ido Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde to call his rampaging youth to order amidst ongoing law enforcement.
“Resorting to violence to resolve communal disputes is unacceptable and those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.
“Aside from law enforcement, I have further directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Dosu Babatunde to commence immediate peace-building and conflict de-escalation in collaboration with the security agencies.
“Any community with grievances is free to approach relevant government agencies to table such for conflict resolution. We will not tolerate violence under whatever guise,” the governor warned.
