Fear and tension gripped residents of Ayegunle in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State on Thursday, June 19, 2025, after armed men launched a brutal attack that left four people dead and several homes destroyed.
The violence, which broke out around 10:00 a.m., is believed to be linked to a longstanding land dispute between Ido-Ayegunle and the neighbouring Esa-Oke community. Tensions reportedly flared after the recent appointment of a traditional ruler for Ido-Ayegunle by Governor Ademola Adeleke—a move fiercely opposed by Esa-Oke indigenes, who argue that an Ilesa native cannot hold royal authority on Esa-Oke ancestral land.
Eyewitnesses said around 100 armed assailants, many of them masked, stormed Ayegunle on motorcycles, firing sporadically and setting houses ablaze. The four victims were reportedly mutilated, with one decapitated, another dismembered, and one having his heart removed. Their bodies were later discovered dumped in a well, which was covered with stones and concrete slabs.
Chief Obanla Ibironke Adebusuyi of Ido-Ayegunle condemned the attack and called for immediate government intervention.
“Our people were going about their daily lives when the attackers struck,” he said. “Some of them were recognised despite wearing masks. They came from the Esa-Oke axis, brutally killed four of our people, desecrated their bodies, and dumped them in a well.”
He dismissed claims that the violence was a clash between hunters and local thugs, accusing the traditional ruler of Esa-Oke, the Owamiran, of orchestrating the assault.
“The Owamiran of Esa-Oke planned this attack,” he alleged.
However, the Owamiran, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, denied the accusation, stating, “If they claim I planned the attack, they should present evidence. I know nothing about it.”
Police Confirm Attack, Promise Justice
The Osun State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, SP Zachariah Abiodun. He stated that the attack stemmed from a boundary dispute between the two communities and that security forces had since been deployed to restore order.
“The Commissioner of Police visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment,” Abiodun said. “Though no arrests have been made yet, investigations are ongoing, and we are committed to identifying and prosecuting those responsible.”
He added that officers responded swiftly after receiving information about the attack, but the assailants fled into the surrounding bushes before police arrived.
“Unfortunately, by the time our team reached the scene, houses had already been set on fire and lives lost. Four bodies were recovered from a well after voices were heard coming from within. All were confirmed dead at the hospital,” Abiodun said.
He assured residents that peace had been restored to the area and that police personnel remain on the ground to prevent further violence.
The Osun State Government is yet to issue an official statement on the incident as calls mount for a thorough investigation and justice for the victims.
