The traditional ruler of Ayetoro Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Micah Ajijo, on Sunday, appealed to the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to provide security in his community as some hoodlums are terrorising him and the community in general.
Ajijo alleged that the hoodlums recently invaded his palace and destroyed property worth millions of naira, adding that the hoodlums attempted to kidnap and kill him in a bid to forcefully remove him from the throne.
He said his predicament started shortly after he ascended the throne following the court order which declared him as the traditional ruler and spiritual head of the coastal community.
The monarch said,
“On March 3, 2023, the gangsters destroyed two houses built very close to the palace belonging to Mr Tokunbo Olasile and Rev Iwasanmi Ajijo and the persons reported the destruction to the police authorities in Igbokoda, while the DPO expressed his helplessness in effecting the arrest of the suspects because of the terrain of the community.
“The Okitipupa Area Commander, Chairman of Ilaje local government and the Officer in Charge of 19 Battalion, Army Barracks, Okitipupa were subsequently alerted on the attack and destruction and they visited and confirmed the aforesaid criminal activities on March 5, 2023.
“As soon as the officers left, they (the hoodlums) again swooped on the Ogeloyinbo’s palace and destroyed the palace building.”
According to him, it took the efforts of naval officers from the neighbouring community to rescue him.
Calling on the state government to take action on the matter, the traditional ruler alleged that looting of property and threats to lives and other criminal activities have continued unabated in the community.
He said so far, he had lost property worth N200m to the criminal activities, noting that no one has so far been arrested by the security agents over the matter.
Meanwhile, the state government has set up a committee to look into the frequent crisis occasioned by leadership tussles and by the oil spill compensation paid to the Aiyetoro community.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the committee was constituted to find a lasting peace to the ravaging crisis in the community arising from the disagreement on issues that include leadership and oil spill compensation.
The committee has Dr Olawunmi Ilawole as the Chairman; Afolabi Aboyewa as a member and Mr Uguoji Justice as Secretary.
The statement read,
“The committee’s terms of reference include but are not limited to investigating the remote and immediate cause of the disagreement, determining and working out an amicable resolution on the oil spill compensation, to recommend appropriate strategies that will bring about lasting peace and development in the community and unite warring factions and any other recommendations that the committee deemed appropriate to ensure peace in the community.”
The committee has three weeks to complete its assignment and report to the governor.