.Uneasy atmosphere at Ora

.SARS, Eagles Squad storm the town

.Akesin in police custody

The hitherto quiet Ora community of Ifedayo Local Government was thrown into confusion on Tuesday, December 7, 2009 as bloody fight erupted between some mobile policemen and commercial transporters.

And by the time the dust will settle down, three men have been consumed by the crisis while 23 individuals are now cooling off their feet in detention at the Criminal Investigative Department (CID), Osogbo.

The Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ora branch, Chief Sagemo Abiodun Idowu and two Police Constables, Nuhu Adejoh and Dosumu Akinola were killed during the melee.

Besides, policemen from SARS and Eagles Squad are still combing the town in order to apprehend other suspects involved in the dastardly act.

The Tuesday mayhem was actually not the first of such in Ora town as there was a deady clash between Asaoni and Akesin royal families some few years ago which led to the killing of one person and burning of several houses.

And on the police side, a 70-year old man, Pa Jacob Alabi was shot dead on the allegation that the driver of the vehicle he was traveling with refused to stop and give the police what they demanded from him.

But on the Ora crisis, the state police command on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 during a press conference addressed by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. John Moronike stated that although investigation into the matter is still on but sketchy information available to the police indicated that one of the police constable and Chief Idowu were friends and that on Monday night the duo were together at a joint for drinks.

Besides, he stated that the policemen who were always stationed near Kwara boundary of Osun State stopped a driver with a Toyota Camry car with no registration number and refused to release him.

Chief Idowu according to the CP reportedly went to the Check-Point where the police were to appeal for the release of the car and the driver.

Moronike explained further that what transpired between the policemen and Chief Idowu was not really clear for now but in the process the NURTW was said to have been shot by one of the police.

Other drivers and residents of Ora it was gathered mobilized themselves and attacked the four policemen at the Check-Point.

Moronike said they all tried to escape but two of them were caught and matchetted and were later burnt by the angry mob beyond recognition while Opeh James and Adamu Yahaya escaped being lynched.

The mob also impounded two Toyota Hillux pick-ups belonging to the State Police Command and set them ablaze, the CP explained further. 

Osun Mail however learnt that among those in police custody as at Wednesday, December 9, 2009 was the Akesin of Ora-Igbomina, Oba Olodoye Idowu.

His official car with inscription “Akesin” was also impounded by the police.

It was not known why Oba Idowu was arrested by the police but sources disclosed that he was held by the police to help security agencies in their investigations.