By John Dike, Osogbo
The wife of the Elegbedi of Egbedi in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, Olori Bukola Afolabi, has been arrested in connection with the ongoing communal crisis between Egbedi and Iloba communities.
She was arrested alongside Isa Adesina, Rasheed Ayandiran and two others for allegedly attacking police officers from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Zone 11, Osogbo, who were deployed to the area to maintain law and order on Monday.
The crisis between the neighbouring communities, which has lingered for over six years, has reportedly claimed lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
Sources disclosed that on April 27, 2026, the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez, allegedly led some individuals to Iloba community where economic trees were destroyed and residents chased away while attempting to rebuild homes allegedly razed during a 2024 attack.
It was gathered that the police team visited the area following a petition submitted to Zone 11 by Iloba residents over persistent attacks on their community.
A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that Olori Afolabi led a group to confront the officers and attempted to free some suspects already in custody.
“Some individuals, including one of the Olori, led thugs to attack our team and tried to release suspects we had arrested.
There was also an attempt to burn our vehicle and disarm officers. However, we were able to arrest one of them alongside four others. They are currently in custody and will be charged to court,” the source said.
Meanwhile, a community leader in Iloba, Imam Muslimdeen Sodiq, accused the monarch of fuelling the prolonged crisis.
Sodiq alleged that the traditional ruler had been making efforts to forcefully take over Iloba land, accusing him of sponsoring violent attacks to displace residents.
He also alleged police complicity, claiming that several petitions submitted to both the state command and Zone 11 had yet to yield lasting solutions.
Residents of Iloba have called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ademola Adeleke, and relevant security agencies to urgently intervene to prevent further escalation.
During Monday’s attack, a couple, Azeez Yusuf and Rasheedat Yusuf, sustained injuries after their residence was vandalised. They are currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ede.
Narrating their ordeal, the couple said they were attacked in their home at Olosape via Iloba around 2 p.m.
“We started running for safety when the crisis began. Suddenly, about 20 people approached our house and attacked us. It took the intervention of the police and operatives of the Nigeria Forest Security Service to rescue us,” they said.
Recall that in 2024, the Elegbedi of Egbedi and four others were remanded at the Ile-Ife Custodial Centre over alleged arson and malicious damage of farmland in Iloba.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Department of Zone 11, Osogbo, were unsuccessfu as of the time of filing this report.
