3 People dead, Policeman injured in bid to eject a King in Ondo State

AKURE — AT least three persons have reportedly
died in Ile Oluji area of Ondo State following move
to forcefully eject the traditional ruler of the town,
Oba Suulade Adedugbe, from the palace by the
youths.
Four others who sustained gun shot injuries are
said to be on admission in private hospitals in Ondo
town.
Vanguard learnt that the youths in their hundreds,
Monday morning, assembled at a roundabout close
to the palace in continuation of their protest to
eject the Oba from the palace.
A source said the youths met policemen at the
palace and while they were surging to over run the
palace, the police fired tear gas at them but the
youths were resolute.
The police, according to a source, fired sporadically
to scare the angry youths and in the process an
unconfirmed number were hit and they died.
Irked by this development, some of the youths also
fired at policemen and about five were injured in
the crossfire.
According to the source, the youths assembled at
the police station as early as 8 a.m yesterday
demanding the release of arrested colleagues.
The protesters were said to have attacked some of
the Police officers met at the station and in the
process there was a shoot-out which resulted in the
casualties.
The development caused pandemonium in the
town as commercial activities were paralysed while
banks and other commercial centres abruptly
closed for the day.
The angry youths barricaded most junctions within
the town just as confusion reigned in the town.
Contacted, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo,
denied the number of casualty but confirmed that
the youths attacked policemen who were deployed
to restore peace.
An unconfirmed source, however, said the monarch
had relocated and is currently in police protective
custody.