Walking on egg shells: For Ayede, Itaji communities, it’s tension over lands

There is tension in Ayede and Itaji communities of Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State following the resurgent of a lingering land dispute between them. Sam Nwaoko reports. 

Ayede-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State has been in serious turmoil following a dispute that arose from a lingering land dispute the community has been engrossed in with neighbouring Itaji community. Members of the neighbouring Oloje community, which lies between Ayede and Itaji, said the matter had been on for a long time.

The claims by some unconfirmed sources are that the matter is all about the expansion of the communities. There are claims and counter claims as to the ownership of the land, so much that it degenerated into a fracas that led to the death of a man identified as Seyi Oladipo.

Oladipo, a father of four, said to be the head of the community’s land guards  was said to have been shot to death allegedly by the Baale of Orisumbare community. The death of Oladipo sparked a protest in Ayede community, a development which grew the community into confusion. But this is after the Ayede youths had disarmed the Baale after he had shot, and had allegedly beaten him to a pulp. South West Tribune was reliably informed that he is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. However, the news about town is still that the Baale has bolted to an unknown destination.

Community sources said the land in dispute is at Orisunmibare, lying between Ayede and Itaji. Oladipo, a 42-year-old father of four and the first child of his father, was allegedly shot following an altercation on the land in dispute. He was said to have been shot in the lower region if his body and he died from the wounds in a hospital.

Following the development, youths in the community had marched to the palace of the Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumini Orisagbemi before also heading for the palace of the Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Adamo Babalola. Their protest, some of them explained, was to register their displeasure with the manner the Onitaji had allegedly handled the dispute.

One of the protesters, who said he was Segun  Ajayi, in relaying the incident said: “The people of Orisunmibamire came some years back to require for a portion of land in that area for farming. In actual fact, the land in the area belongs to Itaji people and our monarch directed them to the then Onitaji for proper action.

“They were given the land and we have been co-habiting peacefully. But later, they started encroaching on Ayede’s land. Earlier in January this year, they started carrying out the survey of a portion of land in our community, and we cautioned them against that.

“People from Itaji and Ayede met on the land for a resolution. But as they were discussing the issue, the village head invaded the place with guns. When the argument over the issue became hot, the village head threatened to shoot and all of a sudden we heard a gunshot which hit Seyi and he fell on the ground.”

One elderly source in the area was cautious in telling of his experience of the dispute. His take is that the matter had dragged for a very long time and “land matters could take any shape or colour and the passion is always high,” he noted.

According to the source, who chose not to be named, “they used to to live at a place called Omí Ògùn, near Ilafon. There’s a river there called Omí Ògùn, which forms the boundary between Oloje and Isan. It is the Oloje people that gave Ayede the present place where they’re settled.

“Anyone that has settled in a place for about 100 years could also claim right to ownership of the place, whether they are your tenant or not. Since death has been involved, there is little or nothing that the monarchs, elders and community leaders can do about it. It is now a criminal matter and the police is involved and they have started their investigations.”

Some of the leaders of the Ayede community have been speaking on the killing of Oladipo. In decrying the death of the man, they are desirous of an early settlement of the dispute by the various stakeholders who could help bring about this. A leader in the community, Mr. Olusegun Osinkolu, lamented the death of Oladipo in the clash and called on the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to prevent anarchy in the area. According to him, killing someone over issue that could be resolved amicably was condemnable. He therefore urged the people to dialogue always, especially over land issues “or toe judicial path rather than taking up arms to cut the lives of innocent youths at their prime.”

Osinkolu, who condemned the land dispute said: “This killing is very regrettable. The people of Ayede and Itaji are brothers. They have been co-existing for long and nothing  had been allowed to separate them.

“I want our people to always toe the path of civility. In the modern world, dialogue and litigation are two instruments being used to settle any difference, which I believed could have been employed to settle this matter.

“I want to appeal  to our people to give peace a chance. I want to commend the Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumini Orisagbemi and the Onitaji for preventing reprisal attack, because that could have increased the casualties.”

The Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumuni Orisagbemi, has also decried the death recorded over the dispute. He noted that the claims over the land were understandable, but stated that it didn’t need to lead to the death of a man before it could be proved. “Since three years ago when the matter broke out, I have insisted that they should go to court with their evidences. We had written a petition before now, in January last year and we complained about the activities of some people over the land.”

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said through the Public Relations officer of the state command  Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said the command has drafted anti-riot policemen to all the sections of the towns to ensure there are no reprisal attacks.

The Commissioner of Police had said though his men had been able to restore normalcy in the area, he would keep his men in the area  until total peace returns to the beleaguered towns. “We had arrested two persons and those suspects will be arraigned in court soon. But let me tell you that our men are on ground to ward off any attack.

“We can’t fold our arms and allow people to take up arms against themselves, so we are taking every action we are supposed to take in this matter,” he said.