One man, identified as Seyi Oladipo has been shot dead in Ayede community in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, following a land dispute that rocked two Ekiti communities on Tuesday.
The death of the man sparked a protest in Ayede community, on Tuesday, a development which tore the community into a state of chaos.
Sources said the land in dispute was at Orisunmibare, lying between Ayede Ekiti and its neighbouring Itaji Ekiti, both in Oye Local Government Area of the state.
The sources claim that the deceased was 40 years old and a father of three, and added that he was allegedly shot on the disputed land on Tuesday.
Youths in the community had marched to the palace of the Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumini Orisagbemi before also heading for the palace of the Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Adamo Babalola.
The angry protesters were said to have been prevented from attacking the palaces by a detachment of policemen, who had been drafted there from the Oye Division.
The protesters had alleged that the head of Orisumbare village had fired the deadly shot, and was alleged to have fled the scene to an unknown destination.
One of the protesters, whose name is given as Segun Ajayi, said: “The people of Orisunmibamire came some years back to acquire a portion of land in that area for farming. In actual fact, the land in the area belongs to Itaji people and our monarch directed them to the then Onitaji for proper action.
“They were given the land and we have been co-habiting peacefully. But later, they started encroaching on Ayede’s land. About a week ago, they started doing the survey of a portion of land in our community and we cautioned them against that.”
“People from Itaji and Ayede met on the land for a resolution. But as they were discussing the issue, the village head invaded the place with guns. When the argument over the issue became hot, the village head threatened to shoot and all of a sudden we heard a gunshot which hit Seyi and he fell to the ground.”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State police command, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed the incident when contacted, said men had been mobilised to control the situation.
Adeyemi said: “I have just confirmed that there was a protest in the town over the death of a person, but everything is now under control. Two people have been arrested while others are also being trailed by our men over the incident.”
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