BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE — AT least three persons have reportedly died in Ile Oluji area of Ondo State following move to forcefully eject the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Suulade Adedugbe, from the palace by the youths.

Four others who sustained gun shot injuries are said to be on admission in private hospitals in Ondo town.

Vanguard learnt that the youths in their hundreds, Monday morning, assembled at a roundabout close to the palace in continuation of their protest to eject the Oba from the palace.

A source said the youths met policemen at the palace and while they were surging to over run the palace, the police fired tear gas at them but the youths were resolute.

The police, according to a source, fired sporadically to scare the angry youths and in the process an unconfirmed number were hit and they died.

Irked by this development, some of the youths also fired at policemen and about five were injured in the crossfire.

According to the source, the youths assembled at the police station as early as 8 a.m yesterday demanding the release of arrested colleagues.

The protesters were said to have attacked some of the Police officers met at the station and in the process there was a shoot-out which resulted in the casualties.

The development caused pandemonium in the town as commercial activities were paralysed while banks and other commercial centres abruptly closed for the day.

The angry youths barricaded most junctions within the town just as confusion reigned in the town.

Contacted, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, denied the number of casualty but confirmed that the youths attacked policemen who were deployed to restore peace.

An unconfirmed source, however, said the monarch had relocated and is currently in police protective custody.