Some warring residents of Ikare-Akoko in the Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State on Thursday torched a bank building belonging to a monarch in the state.
The arsonists went ahead with this devious act despite the curfew imposed on the town by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu following a breakout of violence on Saturday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the people lost their lives in the violence that broke out during the weekend.
Ikare-Akoko has been enmeshed in supremacy claims between the two traditional rulers in the town – the Olukare and the Owa-Ale over decades.
The claim and counter-claims have also deteriorated to the fractionalisation of the town with one part prohibiting residents of the other part from venturing into their part of the town.
The burnt building reportedly belongs to the traditional ruler of the town, the Owa-Ale of Ikare.
Witnesses said people had been moving around in spite of the curfew and were surprised that the arsonists set the bank building ablaze.
One of the witnesses said the arsonists earlier broke the windows and door of the bank building before igniting it.
He said the damage had been done before the police arrived at the scene.
The Divisional Police Officer in Ikare declined to comment but directed NAN to speak with the police spokesperson in Ondo, DSP Funmilayo Odunlami.
The spokesperson, however, did not respond to the questions asked for the police reaction.
