Suspected armed hoodlums from Obbo-Aiyegunle in Kwara State on Tuesday attacked Ilejemeje Local Government secretariat and some residents of the town over land dispute.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alleged hoodlums were heavily armed and fired gunshot to scare residents.
The traditional ruler of Eda Oniyo, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, told our correspondent that the hoodlums also attacked some residents on their farms, adding that one of the injured farmers is receiving medical attention at the hospital.
The monarch said: “People from Obbo-Ayegunle, a Kwara state community, have been farming on our land, but the government of Ekiti state wants to use the land for youths and deployed equipment there preparatory to beginning work. That was what provoked them to attack us.
“They came on bikes. I was even at my farm at that time, they went to vandalise our (Ilejemeje) local government Secretariat and then attacked some of our people who were already on their farms. A car parked at the roadside was vandalised, and three motorbikes were set ablaze. One of the farmers beaten has been hospitalised.
“The government has sent soldiers and policemen to the community. They pleaded with our people not to retaliate. Soldiers and policemen are still at the Council Secretariat now. I learned Amotekun would join in the security endeavour.”
The traditional ruler, who said tension was already brewing up in the community, said that the state government, following the incident had appealed for calm and advised residents against reprisal attack.
The Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mr Alaba Dada, who expressed shock over the incident, added that security agents had been mobilised to the town to douse the tension.
Dada said there was a need for the Ekiti and Kwara governments to meet and settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationships.