The Osun State Police Command is yet to identify and fish out gunmen who launched an attack on Egbedi, a rural community in the Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun, between Wednesday and Thursday.FIJ learnt that the attack was not unconnected with a chieftaincy conflict between the community, Oloba and Ilobu compounds in Ede.On Wednesday morning, Egbedi residents noticed the attackers in the town and attempted to find out what their mission was. In the process, the attackers brought out cutlasses and began applying them on some people.READ ALSO: FUOYE Panel Gets Additional 3 Weeks to Present Sexual Harassment Report on VC FasinaJimoh Ayansola, Chief Mogaji of Egbedi, told FIJ on Saturday that Kazeem Oriade, whom he described as an aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke, led the attackers and he suspected they were sponsored by the palace of Oba Munirudeen Lawal, the Timi of Ede, and leaders of the two compounds in Ede.“I suspect the hoodlums were working for the palace of Timi of Ede and the leaders of Oloba and Ilobu compounds. The reason is that we have a chieftaincy court case in which we are challenging their power to install a chief within our communal jurisdiction. Instead of them to wait for the outcome of that case, they are employing all crude tactics to force their decision on us,” Ayansola said.“The hoodlums were led by Kazeem Oriade, whom I am told is an appointee of the governor. They attacked several people; some received medical attention and returned home immediately, while at least six others are on admission. Those being hospitalised as a result of severe injuries are: Taoridi Lawal, Lawal Ramoni, Iya Blessing, Kazeem and Nurudeen.”As seen in the pictures obtained by FIJ, some of the victims sustained cuts on their heads. Others were on hospital beds.A video of the attack showed three of the attackers holding rifles while walking on a tarred road towards a Sienna bus without a number plate. An inscription written on the exterior of the vehicle partly read “security patrol, local matters”, suggesting a likelihood of the hoodlums operating in collaboration with state security officials.In the video, a man is heard challenging the gunmen to shoot them while mentioning “Kazeem Oriade” as the leader of the aggressors.“In [this] town, what exactly is the problem? Are you Nigerian police officers? Shoot your gun! Don’t go, Oriade. It is Oriade, an OPC [Oodua Peoples Congress] member from Ede. He is an SSA [senior special adviser] to the governor,” the man said in the video clip.Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the governor, had not responded to FIJ’s text and WhatsApp message seeking to confirm Oriade’s affiliation to the governor at press time.A media assistant to the governor, whose name is withheld because he was not authorised to speak with the media, said he could not confirm or deny Oriade’s affiliation with the government “because the governor has a lot of aides and I am just hearing this name for the first time”.There was indiscriminate shooting into the air by the attackers with their faces captured on camera. FIJ learnt that no lives were lost.READ ALSO: VIDEO: Osun Policemen Brutalise NSCDC Officer, Injure Estate ResidentsAccording to Ayansola, a dozen security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army were drafted to the community after the attackers had left and peace was gradually returning to the area.FIJ asked Emmanuel Alade-Giwa, the acting spokesperson for the Osun Police, about arrests made but he had no information to that effect.“It was a communal clash and the police are already investigating it. I am in the office and I don’t know whether anyone has been arrested. But should I have such information, I will revert to you,” Alade-Giwa said on Saturday.The post Police Make No Arrest 3 Days After Kazeem Oriade, Gunmen Attacked Osun Town appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.