Ondo monarch alleges threat to life as community protests

THE Molokun of Atijere in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Samuel Edema, has raised the alarm over threat to his life and family by some allegedly recruited thugs who invaded his palace.

The monarch of the coastal community, which shared boundary with Ogun State, specifically accused a politician in Ogun State, for being behind the invasion.

The people of Atijere community in Ondo State have been at loggerheads with the Makun Omi community of Ogun State who have been laying claims to Atijere as part of Ogun State.

Oba Edema said the hoodlums invaded his palace, demanding for him while they threatened to deal with him and his family if he fails to hand over Atijere as part of Ogun State.

Similarly, the indigenes of the community, on Wednesday, took their protest to the office of the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, alleging the forceful and illegal taking over of their land by the people of Makun Omi.

The protesters, who invaded the state secretariat in their hundreds, called on the state government not to treat the Makun Omi invasion with kid gloves, describing the invasion as a ploy to cede part of Ilaje land, including Atijere, to Ogun State.

Armed with placards of various inscriptions, the protesters, mainly youths and women from Atijere, however, submitted a copy of their petition to the state government which was received by the Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi.

The people, in their letter signed by coordinator, Seun Akala and Secretary, Debo Ikuomola, alleged that members of Imakun community invaded their community on November 29 and 30, encroached on their land and vandalised the traditional building in the community.

They said the invaders, numbering about a hundred, armed to the teeth, also unleashed terror, adding that since then peace has eluded the land.

The protesters pointed out that “Ilaje Nation under the British administration was made part of Lagos colony from 1861 to 1914.

Responding to the protesters request, Ademujimi said the governor is aware of their plight, promising that the government will deploy security personnel to the land, saying the state government has directed the contractor handling Atijere and Aboto road construction to resume work by next year.

The two communities had been laying claims to the ownership of a piece of land between the two communities while the Boundary Commission had intervened in the crisis before another erupted last week Tuesday.