Enoch Oyedibu
Tension gripped the Adesojis Royal Family in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as Chief Adesoji Josiah Adedire was brutally slain in Wanisani village by purported Modakeke assailants last Tuesday.
According to multiple sources, the attack appeared premeditated, with two other villagers reportedly killed in the neighboring Alofe community. The assailants also torched a house and Chief Adedire’s bicycle, leaving several others wounded.
Mr. Samuel, a close associate of the deceased, described the attack as intentional and horrific, recounting how they narrowly escaped death amidst the assailants’ onslaught.
Eyewitnesses reported the assailants wielding firearms and cutlasses during the assault, sparking fear and chaos among the villagers.
The incident adds to a series of attacks plaguing the Toro village area, all allegedly perpetrated by Modakeke assailants, raising concerns over escalating tensions in the region.
The late Chief Adedire, along with Mr. Dare and others, were present during the attack, seeking refuge before the assailants targeted Chief Adedire, resulting in his tragic demise.
Despite efforts to seek justice, including the arrest of a prime suspect identified as Baba Ghana, alleged ties to Modakeke, and his confession implicating other culprits, no arrests have been made by the Osun Police Command.
In a bizarre turn of events, the assailants abducted Chief Adedire’s corpse following the attack, further exacerbating tensions between the communities.
The Nigerian Police Force, Osun Command, however, denied knowledge of the homicide case, emphasizing conflicting allegations between the Modakeke and Ile-Ife communities.
The attack reignites memories of the longstanding inter-communal conflict between Ife and Modakeke, rooted in cultural, economic, and political disputes over land ownership and local governance.
Despite past efforts to restore peace, the recent incident underscores the persistent threat of violence, prompting renewed calls for reconciliation and conflict resolution initiatives within the communities.
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