…Police recover guns, 7 suspects arrested 

By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi 

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested seven suspects and recovered an arsenal of weapons following a violent clash over a disputed land in the Gbalegi area, located between Akure and Idanre.

The incident, which escalated into a deadly confrontation, has left at least four people dead, with an eyewitness claiming five lives were lost.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, the command received a distress call that a group of armed thugs had mobilised to the disputed area, attacking residents.

She noted that, acting swiftly, police officers responded to the scene and apprehended seven individuals in possession of seven single-barrel guns, charms, and a cache of live and expended ammunition.

PPRO revealed that further searches of the surrounding bushland led to the grim discovery of four corpses bearing bullet wounds.

The Police Commissioner has called for calm, urging communities involved in land disputes to seek legal redress rather than resorting to violence.

“We advise communities with boundary issues to approach the courts for resolution rather than taking the law into their own hands. Self-help or violence only leads to unnecessary loss of lives,” the statement emphasised.

Eyewitness accounts from the scene suggest the death toll may be higher, with reports that five individuals were killed in the clash.

The police have not confirmed this figure, but investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The police have assured the public of their commitment to maintaining peace and order while warning against the use of violence in settling disputes.

The arrested suspects are currently in police custody, and charges are expected to follow after the conclusion of investigations.

The Ondo State Police Command has also heightened security in the area to prevent further escalation of violence.