The Osun State Police Command on Thursday disclosed that it has arrested nine suspects in connection with the unrest that led to the death of two persons at Araromi-Owu in Ayedaade local government area of the state.

Crisis erupted in Araromi-Owu on Tuesday over a monarchy tussle as an aggrieved party intended to harass an installed Baale for the community, who is already in seclusion and were resisted by his supporters.

Two persons, including a Civil Defence Corps personnel, were killed while several houses and cars were burnt in the crisis.

Osun police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola said the command has arrested nine persons in connection with the crisis, saying, “Investigation is ongoing in the matter”.

Meanwhile, the Olowu of Orile-Owu, Oba Dauda Akinfalabi, who is a consenting authority to Olu-Araromi stool, in a petition written by his lawyer, Bola Adebowale, urged the State Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute those involved in the crisis for attempted murder, attempt to forcefully install an Oba and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

According to the petition, a prominent person in the community who wanted to install himself as monarch and had earlier approached the state High Court for declarative and injunctive orders, led some thugs to cause chaos while the case he instituted, was still in the court.

“The people of Araromi-Owu who became settlers from Ibadan in Oyo State, have made several attempts to be elevated to the Second Class traditional ruler from village head they had been since 1934 when the late Oba Peter Adekunle, Olowu of Orile-owu, gave them the land for farming and the payment of annual tributaries,” he said.

The royal father lamented how some people went to forge his letterhead and signature as the Consenting Authority in the area and used the forged document to write the government that Olu of Araromi had been recognized as a Second Class monarch and presented same to the government for approval.

He further explained that the forged letter misled the government to make announcement on January 24, 2024, that the Olu of Araromi had been elevated before the government later reversed it having discovered that the document was forged. (Vanguard)