TheCable

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, has warned residents of Ife and Modakeke communities not to give communal colouration to the recent killing of farmers.

Five farmers said to be from Modakeke were killed by gunmen while heading to their farms.

TheCable had gathered that several residents of Ile-Ife had closed their shops and businesses over fears of reprisal from Modakeke residents.

Ile-Ife and Modakeke have a long history of land-related communal clashes spanning decades.

In a statement by Moses Olafare, the palace’s director of media and public affairs, the monarch described the killing as “sheer criminality” and warned the people against fueling embers of discord between the two communities.

The monarch said the killing was not an inter-tribal war, adding that perpetrators of acts of criminality were not representing any community and would only be treated as criminals.

“While some mischief makers tried to link the criminality to the long-resolved Ife/Modakeke dispute, the Palace of Ife wishes to state unequivocally that what happened at Toro village was sheer criminality and the long hand of the law will soon catch up with the perpetrators,” the statement reads.

“It is in the public knowledge that the country like its counterparts across the world is being confronted by security challenges, which would soon be a thing of the past with the cooperation of all, especially we, the citizens.

“Attempts to add communal colouration to the crime with an attempt to distract security operatives from unveiling the evil minds behind the devilish act by some mischief makers is already known to security operatives who are on top of the matter.”

The monarch commended security agents for sustaining peace in the community and urged residents to carry on with their activities.