The election of a new monarch has caused chaos in Esa-Oke town in the Obokun Local Government area of Osun State, with many people reported dead. According to Naija News, the unrest started when Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi, an IT engineer in the United Kingdom, was appointed as the Olojudo of Ido Ayegunle.

Residents of the town had urged the government to promote their district head to the position of Olojudo of Ido Ayegunle rather than appointing a new traditional leader.

Additionally, the residents claimed that although though Ido Ayegunle is in Esa-Oke town’s authority, the state government-appointed person is from Ilesa town. High Chief Adegboyega Ajiboye, the Osolo of Esa-Oke and a local traditional authority, responded to the incident by saying that unknown people had entered the town and started shooting, killing several people. “The individuals began shooting people in Esa-Oke after arriving in four separate 18-seater buses. Ajiboye was quoted by Daily Trust as saying, “I am far away from them, so I do not know how many casualties we have currently.”

It was gathered that the shooters took away the district head of the Ido Ayegunle. A resident of Esa-Oke said “The Governor installed one Ilesa indigene as the Olojudo. So early this morning, a Hillux and a Hummer bumper bus drove in and some people who dressed like DSS started shooting. Some people were even hit by bullets.” The Police Public Relations Officer Osun State Police command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, said the command is aware of the incident, adding that efforts were in place for the situation to be controlled.