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Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ hostels were among buildings burnt on Wednesday by hoodlums who invaded Ipetumodu, the town in Osun state that hosts OAU’s pre-degree programme.
The invasion occurred as a result of a communal violence between two communities – Ipetumodu and Ashipa.
According to a Punch report, it was not clear if there were casualties but some persons were injured in the clash.
A resident of Ipetumodu, who identified himself as Taiwo, told the newspaper on the telephone that residents of Ashipa community invaded their town and set buildings ablaze including hostels occupied by OAU pre-degree students.
He was quoted as saying: “Hoodlums from Ashipa community invaded our town and started shooting and destroying houses. They set some buildings on fire and people ran away.”
A resident, who claimed to be from Ashipa community, however, accused residents of Ipetumodu of being the aggressors.
The Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ayo Olowe, told the newspaper that “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.
“They said they brought out the students belongings before setting the hostels ablaze.”