On February 3, 2025, a group of local thugs in Esa-Oke, a town under the Obokun Local Government Area in Osun State, ambushed and seriously injured at least seven police officers dispatched by the Ibokun Area Command to maintain order in the community.
Some police officers were shot while clearing trees on the roadway by local thugs who had stationed themselves at the scene to prevent law enforcement personnel from intervening. After a brief 10-minute open firing session, these local thugs fled, allowing police to enter the village and restore peace and order.
GENESIS OF THE CRISIS?
Findings by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that the violent conflict between the Esa-Oke and Ido-Ayegunle communities began 30 years ago as a result of a power struggle over supremacy and leadership.
According to the findings, leaders of Esa-Oke argue that Ido-Ayegunle is a suburb of the town, but leaders of Ido-Ayegunle claim that Ido-Ajegunle is a separate community that must be administered by its leaders rather than through proxy.
The dispute erupted in 2014 when Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State, promoted the late Oba Ajayi Aselebe to Part 2 King. A check by this reporter indicated that there were disputes from all sides in 2014, resulting in property destruction, among other things, but these grievances were contained, and both communities lived on borrowed time until 2021, when the traditional king of Ido-Ayegunle passed away.
REBIRTH OF VIOLENT CONFLICT?
According to a reputable source, the Owa Omiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, appointed High Chief Lawrence Olayinka Olatunji as the Baale of Ido Ayegunle.
According to the source, Oba Adeyemi Adediran took advantage of the death of late Oba Ajayi Aselebe and the prolonged delay in appointing a new Olojudo of Ido-Ajegunle by designating his second-in-command, High Chief Lawrence Olayinka Olatunji, as the Baale of Ido-Ayegunle.
On January 31, 2025, the Osun State Executive Council approved the appointment of Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi, a United Kingdom-based information technology (IT) engineer as the Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State.
The new king, who studied Office and Information Management at Lead City University Ibadan, Nigeria before his sojourn abroad, is an entrepreneur and business owner who invested in the hospitality and the agricultural industry.
Other approved new kings are Prince Emmanuel Adesokan Ayoola as the Oluwaro of Iwaro in Ife North Local Government Area and Prince Kazeem Deji Ogungbe as Oniwata of Iwata in Irewole Local Government.
This new development fueled antagonism between the Esa-Oke and Ido Ayegunle populations. Old and young members of the Ido Ayegunle community were preparing for traditional rites and the coronation of the new Olojudo when they were allegedly attacked by the Obanla of Esa-Oke, High Chief Lawrence Olayinka Olatunji, who had been designated as Baale of Ido-Ayegunle in 2021. High Chief Adebisi and his boys became enraged by the new development, which would remove them from being in control of Ido-Ayegunle.
POLICE REACTION?
CSP Yemisi Opalola, the Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, told WITHIN NIGERIA over the phone that operatives were quickly deployed to restore order in the area.
According to Opalola, police officers were ambushed, shot, and seven were injured while removing logs of wood from the road to ensure safe access into town.
“There were gunfire from the bush, which injured police officers and were promptly repelled. Police nabbed two hoodlums during the crossfire. There is no record of police fatalities, and those who were critically hurt are recovering in the hospital.
Opalola further stated the police had detained nine people, including the mastermind of the situation, Obanla of Esa-Oke, High Chief Lawrence Olayinka, his son, Daniel Olayinka Lawrence, and seven others.
She further stated that the police have been reliably informed that the individual responsible for the crisis and the shooting of the police officers, Obanla of Esa Oke, Olatunji Lawrence Olayinka, was just freed from prison (correctional facility).
ESA-OKE REACTION?
Oladiti Awodiran, a representative of the Esa-Oke Central Union, stated in response to the occurrence that pandemonium broke out as a result of a stranger being appointed as Oba in a village within Esa-Oke town.
In a statement received by WITHIN NIGERIA, Awodiran said that men in police clothing attacked the Esa-Oke community and began firing intermittently, killing four people and injuring others.
The full statement reads;
“It is with utmost regret and profound sadness that I have to address you this afternoon concerning the tragic event that occured today in Esa OKE an hitherto peaceful community in Obokun local government of Osun State.
“My heart bleeds and my head aches as I stand before you today to inform you that men in Police uniform invaded Esa OKE community and started shooting sporadically leading to the death of no fewer than 4 Youth while several others were wounded in the mayhem
“The pandemonium broke out as a result of the announcement by Governor ADEMOLA ADELEKE that a stranger has been appointed as Oba or Baale in a community within Esa OKE Town.
“THE Esa OKE community had in the past vehemently resisted The attempt to install an oba or Baale in the community as the said settlement is Right inside Esa OKE Town a few meters to the campus of OSUN State College of Technology Esa OKE.
“To us, The appointment of a Baale or Oba on another town’s territory negates all logic, tradition and history.
“ESA OKE is in IJESA North Federal constituency, The settlement (IDO AJEGUNLE) on which a monarch was appointed by Owa of Ilesa is Unit eleven a polling station under Esa OKE.
“As I stand here to address you, Youth in Esa OKE are being arrested arbitrarily and are being moved to unknown places.
“Our sons, Hon Oluwole Oke, The chairman Esa OKE Central Union Otunba Yinusa Bamgboye, Lawyer Gbite Adeniyi, Professor Siji Olamiju, Prince Banji Ademiku and concerned family The Asalu Family of Esa Oke as well as host of other well meaning Esa OKE sons and daughters have waded into the matter and the Esa OKE community had resolved to follow the path of law and peace before today’s unfortunate I’m incident.
“We are calling on the Osun State commission of Police, Director of DSS Osun State, office of the special Adviser to investigate the killing in Esa OKE today”
IDO-AYEGUNLE REACTION?
In a statement released by Ido-Ayegunle signed by Ibironke Busuyi, Esa-Oke community was accused of enroachment and destabilizing the peace and harmony of the town.
The full statement reads;
We would like to commend the efforts of the security forces and commanders for calming the situation in Ido Ayegunle. It is essential to set the record straight that Ido Ayegunle is a separate township from Esa Oke, with its own suburbs and recognized by the government of Osun State and Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The history of violence between Esa Oke and Ido Ayegunle dates back to 1995 when our father, the late King Adekanmi Ajayi Aselebe, was appointed as the 16th Oba of Ido Ayegunle. This led to his elevation as the Part 2 King of the Yoruba band in 2014. However, the King of Esa Oke at that time waged war against our father, destroying properties and lives, including schools and the palace.
After our late father’s passing four years ago, the Owa Omiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, appointed Jonfolo Lawrence Adebisi Obanla of Esa Oke as the Baale of Ido Ayegunle, despite Ido Ayegunle having a Part 2 Oba since 2024. This decision is deceitful and has hindered the growth and development of Ido Ayegunle.
We sought government intervention and provided documentation to support our claims. The state government in pursuance of justice affirmed our claim, leading to the appointment of the new Olojudo. We are eternally grateful.
Unfortunately, the people of Esa Oke have continued to encroach on our land, leading to violent clashes. Recently, on January 31, 2025, a group of people from Ido Ayegunle were ambushed and beaten while trying to clean up their community hall.
We appreciate the efforts of the government in addressing this issue, and we are confident that the truth will prevail. Ido Ayegunle is a separate entity from Esa Oke, and we will continue to fight for our rights and freedom.
The new Olojudo has the full support of the people of Ido Ayegunle. This was demonstrated today when the people rose in defence of their town, tradition and their traditional ruler.
We have allowed the government to do its job. We thank God that justice has prevailed. We are not from Esa Oke, so I don’t know what is going on in Esa Oke. We implore people to read, and understand that the little town of Ido Ayegunle is not part of Esa Oke.
We are not in any way related to the Esa Oke crisis. Esa Oke are the ones in Ido Ayegunle, as I speak, but we believe the government will save our town from aggressors.
ABANDONED MILITARY GAME VILLAGE WOULD HAVE AVERTED CRISIS
Adeniyi Damilare, an activist and analyst, has expressed his regret over the tragic and unfortunate incident that resulted in the deaths of four people and the injuries of 25 in Esa-Oke.
Damilare, who added that no one deserves to lose his or her life for any reason, told WITHIN NIGERIA that people must learn to live in peace and love, regardless of differences.
“Incidents like this remind me of the abandoned military game village in Esa-Oke.” Hon. Wole Oke facilitated the military outfit in 2012. 13 years later, it remains abandoned and neglected. Contractors have abandoned the site, and no one, including the lawmaker who facilitated and is responsible for monitoring, has worked to complete the military village.”
According to Damilare, military personnel would have raced to the crime scene to assist police in maintaining peace and order, resulting in the loss of fewer young people to the mayhem.
He praised the police and state government’s efforts to restore peace in two warring areas.
He also advised young people to stop using violence and instead advocate for communal harmony and cooperation in the pursuit of long-term development.
