There was outbreak of violence in Irun Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday over the plot to instal a monarch for a section of the town.
Youths of the town took to the streets to protest the alleged secession by a section of the town and the installation of a factional monarch.
The violence was the climax of the crisis which has engulfed the town after the demise of the former monarch and the plan to instal a monarch for a section of the town.
The regent of Irun Akoko, Princess Oluremi Obideyi, was selected after the demise of her father, Oba Williams Adewusi, in 2011.
Initially, there were grievances by a section of the community that they wanted kingmakers allocated to them, a request which a combination of social clubs in the town had considered.
But a new twist was introduced when the same section got permission from the the government to organise a separate yam festival in July.
The crisis began at the weekend when there was beating of drums from a group that installed a separate king in the person of a former member of the House of Representatives, Lanre Adeyemi.
The news spread round the town and it took the prompt intervention of the Regent, Princess Oluremi Obideyi, and other chiefs to calm the angry youths.
Both sides were, however, invited to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) State Command in Akure where the alleged newly-installed king denied any such move.
However, it was learnt that when the sides got to town, various factions of the story were told prompting another round of violence.
However, feelers inside the town have it that tension is everywhere as a combined team of army and police battle to maintain the peace.
The crisis rocking the town started about two years ago when some people, alleging marginalisation, threatened to break away.
Despite several meetings and interventions by officials of the state government, groups and associations within the town, the group remained adamant, insisting on breaking away.
Meanwhile, the regent has sent a passionate appeal to Governor Olusegun Mimiko to intervene in the matter and restore peace to the town.
