One dies as masquerade festival turns bloody in Osun
By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
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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 weekend in the two neighbouring communities on a very good note till Sunday, when things went awry and led to a brawl.
One of the residents of the Apomu community, Hammed Abidoye told our correspondent that altercation ensued between a masquerade from Apomu, belonging to a faction of Odua People’s Congress and that of Ikoyi, who is of another faction of Akerele on Sunday.
According to Abidoye, the masquerades and their adherents clashed Sunday around 6:30 pm. I don’t know what caused the fight. One person was killed and the situation is tensed both in Apomu and Ikoyi.
According to him, Civil Defence operatives are trying to calm the situation down while houses, shops and other property were reportedly burnt during the clash.
Contacted, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun Command, Kehinde Adeleke, confirmed the incident.
She noted:“We learnt that one person was killed truly. But we haven’t confirmed that.
“The Command has deployed tactical teams to forestall break down 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.”
While speaking with our correspondent, spokesperson of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, said the command has deployed mobile police to the area and normalcy has returned as at Tuesday morning.
She, however, said the command was yet to confirm any casualty.
“It’s true a house and a kiosk located at the boundary were burnt by the hoodlums. But we can’t confirm death of any one. The Commissioner of Police has deployed mobile police officers to the scenes and normalcy has returned.
