On Wednesday, the Obaship crisis that was roiling Eko-Ende, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Osun State, took a new turn when a group of people suspected of arsonists attacked and injured several people, including a police officer.

The seat of the Eko-Ende Oba has remained empty since the passing of Abdul Rauf Olaniyan Ajiboye, the Oba in immediate succession.

Adekunle AbdulWaheed Babatunde, a chartered accountant, was crowned the next Oba of Eko-Ende, according to an earlier story from Allnews

The action of the suspects, said to be about eight in number including a woman created pandemonium in the town, as some residents who are said to be supporters of Oba of Eko-Ende elect were attacked on Wednesday.

Six persons including a policeman, according to information were injured. The incident happened after the selection of Babatunde by five Afobajes.

In a petition to the Osun State Commissioner of Police and sighted by this medium, through the victim’s counsel, Dawood Ajetunmobi and Co. accused eight persons of masterminding the attack.

They accused Hammed Oladosu, Mr Azeez Oladosu, Lukman Aroyehun, Adijat Oladosu, Opadayo Akeem, Kunle Oyeniyi Jimoh Raheem and Mr Ibraheem Oladosu – whom they alleged were the suspects.

According to the petition, “We are Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with office at the below address, and this petition is at the instance and on behalf of Mr Mustapha Adeyemi, Mr Adekunle Kabiru, Mr Adeniyi Azeez, Mr Rasheed Niniola, Mr Bakre Sodiq, Mr Afolabi Abdulafeez all of Eko-Ende, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Osun State (whom we hereinafter called ‘our clients’).”

The petition explained that the Afobajes of the ancient town of Eko-Ende unanimously voted to select Adekunle Abdulwaheed Babatunde, as the new Elende of Eko Ende after the demise of the immediate past Oba, Abdul Rauf Olaniyan Ajiboye.

“That our clients were on their way to meet the newly selected Elende of Eko Ende, Prince Adekunle Abdulwaheed Babatunde, Fca when the suspects who were armed with leather weapons like cutlasses, cudgels, axes and other dangerous weapons ambushed our clients and freely used the said weapons on our clients and also damaged our clients’ vehicles.

“That after the attack, some of our clients who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to Alayo Hospital, Ikirun for immediate medical care.

“That the attack was subsequently reported at lyaganku Divisional Police, Ikirun.

“That as if that is not enough, to add salt to injury, the suspects began to boast around that they would kill all our clients and Oba- elect.

“As a result of the deadly attacks on our clients and threat to their lives, our clients are now in a very hypertensive fear for their lives and those of the members of their household as the suspects still threaten to repeat their dastardly acts anywhere they see our clients within and outside Ekoende.

“We therefore present this petition in order to alert the Police authorities on the danger now posed to our client’s safety; and we nurse no doubt that this petition shall receive A VERY PROMPT attention.”

While reacting to the allegations, Hammed Oladosu one of the accused and a candidate to the stool said the case was being handled by the police.

Oladosu accused Adekunle who is a police officer and one of the victims of attempting to kill him on Wednesday.

“It happened in the presence of the DPO of lyaganku Divisional Police and the Area Commander of Ikirun. He harassed me in front of them because he is a policeman.

“We’ve been called upon to settle the matter and let peace reign,” he said.