Two people have reportedly been killed as a dispute over the local monarchy turned violent in Araromi-Owu, Ayedaade local government area of Osun State.

The trouble began last week and escalated on Tuesday. According to residents, the conflict became severe when an aggrieved group set fire to cars and barricaded the access road into the town.

Ismail Olaoye, a local resident, said, “Mercenaries hired by the aggrieved party set fire to the access road to prevent security operatives from entering.”

Hoodlums also attacked a group of security personnel sent to the area, injuring some officers. Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that five people had been killed and that houses and cars were burned by the rioting mobs. The unrest reportedly stemmed from disagreements over the appointment of the new monarch.

“The aggrieved group claimed the throne, even though another person had already been appointed and was in seclusion. This sparked violent protests that eventually turned into a full-blown crisis,” the source explained.

Osun State police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the situation and said a mobile police force and a special police unit had been deployed to the town to restore order.

Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Security, Barrister Samuel Ojo, disputed the higher death toll and said, “Only two casualties have been recorded, not five as some sources claimed. We have been intervening for the past five days to manage the situation and prevent it from becoming more brutal. All security heads in the state are working to restore law and order in the community.”