A Divisional Police Officer and three other police officers have reportedly been killed during the communal clash between Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area and Ifon, headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State.
It was gathered that the patrol van of the policemen and houses located at the warring communities were also burnt down by the arsonists.
The Nation reports that the Osun State government had on Wednesday night raised the alarm that the clash might occur after youths were seen brandishing weapons.
Subsequently, the two communities clashed and houses were razed at the warring communities, and reports said that some residents of the communities were reportedly killed.
It was gathered that the deceased policemen were ambushed by some hoodlums who alleged that the officers were supporting one of the communities against the other.
The Osun State Police Public Relation Officer, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the incident, also confirmed that four policemen were shot dead and their patrol van burnt.
The police spokesperson said, “They burnt a new patrol van of the police yesterday. They accused us of taking side. It is unfortunate that the monitoring section van that was donated to us was burnt. Our four men are in hospital now, they were shot.
“The Divisional Police Officer of Ilobu was among those who were shot, he was shot on his hand but thanks to God, they are all responding to treatment. They ambushed policemen when our men attempted to broker peace in the area.”
The Osun State Deputy Governor of the state, Kola Adewusi, meanwhile led the government delegation to the boundary of the warring communities, as members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the communities had been evacuated by security operatives, while residents had also started fleeing.