Esa-Oke Surges to a Ghost Town after Rage Erupts: Streets Deserted, Schools and Shops Shut Down

Streets in Esaoke, in Obokun Local Government of Osun State, were deserted on Tuesday following the purported killing and destruction of property during a communal war on Monday.

When our correspondent visited the community, the State College of Technology, secondary schools, markets, and shops were firmly locked, while some residents had deserted their homes.

According to report reliably gathered that no one died in the melee, but some people sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving treatment in different hospitals.

The people of Esaoke and Ido Ajegunle had engaged in a battle over the ownership of land where Ido Ajegunle is situated.

The announcement of Timileyin Ajayi by Governor Ademola Adeleke as the new Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle led to the war, which caused widespread destruction of property.

The Esaoke community alleged that Ido Ajegunle is a community under it, and only the Owamiran of Esaoke is the consenting authority to install a village head, stating that the announcement of an indigene of Ilesa as a king is alien.

When Adeleke visited the communities, the chairman of the Esaoke Central Union, Otunba Bamigboye Yinusa Aremu, told the governor that the appointment of Ajayi led to the war because Ajayi hailed from Ilesa.

He said, “As you are aware, the Esaoke community has been embroiled in a crisis following the imposition of Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle. This appointment, made through a government white paper, is a source of great concern for us.

“Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi is a native of Ilesa in the Ijesha South Traditional Council and has no lineage or connection to the families that own the farmland or to the Esaoke community. This imposition violates the traditional and historical jurisdiction of His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyemi Akanbi Adediran (Atipa Owaji II, Owa Omiran of Esaoke), and undermines the peace and unity of our community.

“We respectfully demand the reversal of the government white paper that appointed Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido Ajegunle. This action is necessary to restore the trust of the Esaoke people in the government and to prevent further escalation of tensions.

“Additionally, we appeal for the unconditional release of our youths who were indiscriminately arrested during the recent crisis. The arrests were carried out with poor judgment, as they failed to identify those actually responsible for the destruction of property. Our youths are innocent and should not be made to suffer for a crisis they did not instigate,” Aremu said.

The Owamiran of Esaoke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, described the invasion of his community by killers as a disgrace to him, saying, “I am not afraid of war.”

Corroborating the monarch, the Asalu of Esaoke, High Chief Ajewole James, told the governor that the disputed land belongs to Esaoke, saying the name is Ido Ajegunle and not Ido Ayegunle.

According to him, Ido Ayegunle had been at war with Efon Alaye before they conceded the land to Efon Alaye, noting that Ido Ajegunle is a farm where Asalu compounds were founded before forming an alliance with Esaoke.

Addressing the people of Esaoke, Governor Adeleke promised to investigate those behind the arson in the town and ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

He urged the people to swallow their anger and forward their petition, promising that justice would be done in the matter.