One person has been reportedly killed after Egungun masquerade festival caused a communal clash between two communities; Ikoyi and Apomu in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
It was gathered that the Egungun festival started last Thursday in the two neighbouring communities with fanfare till Sunday when things went awry and led to a brawl.
A resident of the Apomu community, Hammed Abidoye, explained that an altercation ensued between a masquerade of Apomu belonging to a faction of Odua People’s Congress and that of Ikoyi, who is of another faction of Akerele on Sunday.
“Those Egungun and their adherents clashed on Sunday around 6:30pm. I don’t know what caused the fight. One person was killed and the situation is tense both in Apomu and Ikoyi. Civil Defence people are trying to calm the situation but the situation is serious right now,” he stated.
A resident of Ikoyi, Aminat, stated that they burnt houses, shops and other property during the clash.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun Command, Kehinde Adeleke, confirmed the incident.
“We learnt that one person was killed truly but we haven’t confirmed that.
“The Command has deployed tactical teams to forestall breakdown of law and order. The team had been briefed to ensure adequate protection of lives and National Assets and infrastructure.
“The tactical team is equipped with the necessary resources and expertise to effectively address the situation on ground and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
“We urge all citizens to remain calm and go about their daily activities without fear. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all,” Adeleke said.
