The clash arose from a long-standing boundary and land ownership dispute between the two communities.
Residents of Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, on Friday brutalised a police constable and forced him to kneel inside a palace following allegations that he fired teargas at locals during a land dispute with neighbouring Erin-Osun community.
The clash arose from a long-standing boundary and land ownership dispute between the two communities.
Tensions escalated after some Ilobu residents reportedly occupied the contested land, prompting aggrieved members of Erin-Osun to report the matter to a nearby police station.
Police officers were deployed to restore order and make arrests. However, upon arrival, residents of Ilobu resisted, leading to chaos.
During the confrontation, the constable discharged teargas in an attempt to disperse the crowd, an action that eyewitnesses say further inflamed the situation. Locals accused him of targeting Ilobu indigenes while sparing people from Erin-Osun.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the officer, with visible injuries on his head and hand, was seen surrounded by angry residents who questioned him over his actions.
At one point, he was forced to kneel in what appeared to be a palace courtyard, while being repeatedly asked why he fired the teargas and whether he had been sent specifically to harm Ilobu residents.
The constable, “It was a mistake that I pulled the teargas. I don’t have it in mind to injure anyone.” He added that he acted on instructions from his superior and had not intended to target anyone specifically.
Despite his explanation, the mob continued to harass him, even making him hold the teargas canister while kneeling.
Residents also demanded that he identify his town of origin, further heightening tensions.
A resident of Ilobu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that police reinforcements have since taken over the community.
“The incident happened in Ilobu, Irepodun. There has been a longstanding directive that policemen should not go to that land to arrest people. But people from Erin-Osun went to their police station and brought officers to that land.
“When the constable fired teargas, the residents thought he fired a gun, and they beat him mercilessly,” the source said.
The resident added that arrests are ongoing and security presence remains high in the area.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while tensions between the two communities continue to simmer.
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