Hoodlums burnt the palace of the Onigbaye of Igbaye, Oba Joseph Okunlola-Oni, during Monday’s violent carnival, it was learnt on Tuesday.

Two vehicles and 10 motorcycles parked in the premises were razed.

One person was shot dead as two groups clashed in the community over chieftaincy.

It was gathered that after one Hamzat was shot dead by a yet-to-be-identified man, hoodlums regrouped and invaded the palace of Oba to burn 10 motorcycles, two vehicles and the palace.

A highly placed security source said the community had been battling issues surrounding their kingship.

The government presented staff of Office to Oba Okunlola-Oni but some aggrieved indigenes appointed another man as their king.

“Yesterday, the two sides organised programmes. One of them claimed that he was celebrating Igbaye day while another tagged his a carnival celebration, which was held close to palace area.

“Oba Okunlola-Oni took drummers and other entourage to dance around the community. During the process, they clashed with those people who were at the carnival. It was a brutal riot between them.

“The monarch was nearly mobbed but security operatives rescued him from the palace. At that point, one Hamzat was shot dead at the venue of the carnival event. Some hoodlums regrouped and invaded the palace with petrol bomb, razing properties,” he said.

Oba Okunlola-Oni lamented on Tuesday that the police was yet to make any arrest 24 hours after the destruction.

“The incident is a very terrible one. A monarch doesn’t deserve such violent and mob attacks. Unfortunately, security operatives have not made an arrest in connection with the crime of destroying my palace.

“The hoodlums destroyed everything in the palace. They burnt 10 motorcycles, set the palace ablaze, including two vehicles,” he said.

(Daily Trust)

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