Some aggrieved youths on Wednesday set ablaze the palace of Salu of Edunabon, a town in Ife North local government area of Osun State.
The youths were protesting against the new monarch approved by the state government for the town.
The new monarch Kehinde Oladepo who left seclusion in the early hours of Wednesday was reportedly abducted by the youths but was later rescued by the police.
During the clash between the protesters and the men loyal to the new monarch, Raphael Onifade, Seye Oyelade, one Baba Adashi and Adekola Onifade and six others were seriously injured.
One of the six contestants that Mr Oladepo defeated, Nasiru Adebayo came to the town a week after the new monarch began seclusion where he was undergoing traditional rites, brandishing a letter purportedly signed by the Ooni of Ife in his capacity as the consenting authority, declaring him the new Salu of Edunabon.
Mr Adebayo was said to have begun his own seclusion and traditional rites.
Some residents living near Salu’s palace said that some youths stopped Oladepo when he was about entering the palace around 8am after seclusion.
When all entreaties to the youths failed, the monarch and others with him reportedly pulled down a part of the palace’s fence and gained entrance.
An eyewitness identified as Olagunju Ezekiel said “because he forcefully entered the palace, those youths that were opposed to his candidature, set the palace on fire and waited for the monarch and his men outside the fence.
“A shopping complex in the front of the palace and offices inside the palace and the main building in the premises were razed.”
Osun police spokesperson Folasade Odoro said the number of people arrested could not be confirmed, adding that normalcy had been restored to the area.
