A Councillor and a local vigilante member have been killed by gunmen in a suspected reprisal attack.
The gunmen reportedly attacked Koseru community, a farm settlement in Odigbo local government area of Ondo State on Saturday following the shooting of a woman in Kajola village, Okitipupa local government.
The Nation reported that the gunmen suspected to be Ikale youths reportedly destroyed some farmlands.m
Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters and Commander of the Ondo Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the corpses of those killed during the attack have been deposited in a mortuary.
Adeleye, who debunked claims of Amotekun operatives being killed during the attack, said normalcy has been restored to the community. He also disclosed that a combined team of policemen, soldiers and Amotekun Corps kept vigilance in the community.
The Amotekun commander said;
”There has been an age- long crisis in Koseru between Oluku family of Ikale in Okitipupa and the Oyo/Osun farmers living in Odigbo local government. The Oyo/Osun are predominantly cash crop farmers. They have been fighting over ownership of the land.
“The fresh crisis erupted when a one women in Kajola was shot.
“We are suspecting a reprisal attack of some Ikale youths who mobilised themselves and launched attack on the unsuspecting Osun/Oyo farmers. There is a Councillor representing Oyo/Osun axis that was killed in the fracas. A vigilance member and not Amotekun was killed. Their corpses have been deposited at the hospital. Amotekun, Police and the Army maintain vigilance overnight to ensure peace returns. The attackers destroyed more of farmlands.”
Ondo police spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami who also commented on the attack, said no policeman was killed in the attack.