Four persons have been killed while police personnel sustained injuries after clashes in Esa-Oke early on Monday.

It was learnt that the clashes which also resulted in the reported shooting of 25 persons followed the appointment of Prince Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido-Ayegunle, in Obokun local government area of Osun State by the state government.

Ido-Ayegunle is a town located between Esa-Oke and Ijebu-Ijesa, in Oriade local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the dispute started over the weekend and it finally snowballed into a communal crisis on Monday as indigenes of the town alleged that the monarch was from Ilesa.

A source who pleaded anonymity while lamenting the development said the clashes had degenerated into a bloody war.

Hello said, “There’s a war going on in Esa Oke between Ilesa and Esa-Oke indigenes.

“Ilesa people want to crown a king in Ido Ayeginle in Esa-Oke, but the indigenes are strongly opposed to it.”

Another resident of the town, Babafemi Adesiyan, explained that crisis erupted in the morning when some people, allegedly from Irojo Quarters in ilesa, were trying to install a king for Ido-Ayegunle, a suburb of Esa-Oke town.

According to him, “The resistance from the people of Esa-Oke led to the fracas which resulted in the brutal killings of about four people.”

Meanwhile, the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, has called on residents of the ancient town to remain calm as tension mounts over land disputes.

Oba Adediran made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria, Gold FM, Ilesa.

While calling on security operatives to restore law and order to the town, the traditional ruler urged his people to be law abiding and allow peace to reign.

The Osun State Police Command has also confirmed the incident.

The Osun State Police PRO, CSP Yemisi Opalola disclosed that seven police officers were injured in the clashes.

Opalola however did not mention the cause of the crisis that engulfed the community on Monday morning.