Popular Yoruba musician, Yinka Ayefele, over the weekend, was attacked at the Ijare area of Ondo State alongside his band boys, by hoodlums who went on rampage and vandalized his vehicles and musical instruments for refusing to settle some ‘area boys’ after being paid his performance fee.

According to reports, about 15 persons were wounded as the hoodlums attacked those invited to a burial ceremony of an 85-year-old woman, one Madam Ebunoluwa Lydia Odumakinde, held at Odo Oja Street in the town, where Ayefele reportedly got N3m for the performance and according to the hoodlums, he did not drop anything for the ‘local boys.’

Eyewitnesses said the hoodlums reportedly sent their leader to the musician’s band leader to ask for the ‘boys’ settlement’ but was turned down. He was reportedly smuggled out of the town as the hoodlums went wild due to his refusal to settle them for performing in the town.

Angered by the feedback from their leader, the hoodlums were said to have mobilised others to the venue of the party as another person was reportedly sent to the leader of the band who told them that there was no provision for them. Some of his band boys, however, were not as lucky as they were beaten silly when the hoodlums discovered that their leader had escaped from the scene of the party.

Vanguard reports that the band leader sensing that the hoodlums were poised for a showdown, pleaded with them to exercise patience till the end of the party when their boss would be informed. The hoodlums after the assurance reportedly placed themselves in strategic positions to be able to monitor the movement of the musician.

Reports further revealed that the hoodlums became unruly when they were later told that their boss turned down their request. The big tent under which the party took place, tables and chairs were reportedly damaged, while bottles were recklessly broken by the rampaging hoodlums.

The new spokesman of the State Police Command, Femi Joseph, when contacted, reportedly said there was no official report of the incident, but an unnamed police officer at Ijare, reportedly said the timely intervention of some policemen in the town saved the situation from degenerating into a full blown crisis.