A number of pre-degree students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, were nearly killed on Wednesday as youths of Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities of Osun state engaged in armed combat.
The students, of the institution, were caught in the middle of the boundary-related dispute.
According to an eyewitness, identified as Taiwo, armed 'hoodlums' from Ashipa community invaded Ipetumodu.
Taiwo, who resides in Ipetumodu, said the invaders set fire to a number of houses, including the students' hostels, while shooting sporadically.
“Hoodlums from Ashipa community invaded our town and started shooting and destroying houses. They set some buildings on fire and people ran away,” he said.
But residents of the invading community said the Ipetumodu people were the aggressors.
A statement credited to the Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Ayo Olowe, suggests that the students were not targeted by the attackers.
“There was crisis and some houses were burnt especially in Ipetumodu. Some persons were said to have stormed the town, vandalised the students’ property and set buildings ablaze," Olowe said.
“They said they brought out the students belongings before setting the hostels ablaze.”
most pre-degree students of OAU reside at Moro, Ashipa and Ipetumodu communities.
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