Yemisi Izuora
The O’odua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), a coalition of 35 pan Yoruba groups has expressed deep concern over alleged gross human rights abuse and killings in Ilaje town of Ondo state.
The group at a press briefing in Lagos warned of serious human rights situation in the Ilaje area, and possible escalation of violence if nothing is done to stop it.
Dr. Segun Ajayi leader of the group said, “You may be aware that Ilaje is the only oil producing community in Yorubaland where oil activities and the consequent economic and political impact have far reaching implications on the well being of the entire Yorubaland and Nigeria at large.
Permit us to inform you that in the past few months, human lives have come under severe and malicious attacks in the context of the supremacy war being waged by the Olugbo of Ugboland, His Royal Majesty Oba Fredrick Akinruntan.
In this ceaseless hostilities, not less than six people have been hacked to death. Two of those killed are members of ONAC in Igbokoda”.
Ajayi also expressed the concern that the Olugbo has allegedly stationed armed thugs across Ilaje land especially at Igbokoda, the ancestral and spiritual headquarters of the Ilaje people.
According to him, These thugs led Bamitale Iwatan has continued to terrorise the people of Ilaje and kill those who challenge them.
The Olugbo is not from Igbokoda. His ancestral home is Ugbo. We are concerned that having been chased out of Ugbo, Oba
Akinruntan has imposed himself on the people of Igbokoba, calling the shots and making desperate efforts to act as if he is the legitimate traditional ruler of Igbokoda, to the amazement and consternation of the indigenous people of this great and historic hemisphere.
In the process, the Oba has ensured the exit of the legitimate ruler of Igbokoda, His Royal Majesty, Oba Afolabi Oladimeji Odidiomo.
He disclosed that in the orchestrated campaign of terror, six people, Deji Enikologbon, Iroayo Nana, Banji Orofin and three others whose names are not yet ascertained were killed and their bodies burnt in the car of the Olu of Igbokoda.
“The challenge the people face was compounded by the fact that shortly before the Presidential election, Oba Akinruntan supported President Goodluck Jonathan.
We do not begrudge his decision to support a particular candidate, our worry is that he also ensured, through armed surrogates that no dissenting voices were allowed.
Traditional rulers who appear to oppose his campaigns or who had called for respect for the culture of traditional institutions were silenced or threatened by the Oba.
However, since the lost of the Presidential election by his candidate, the Oba, with the collaboration of some mischievous police ratings and officers, have launched violent campaign of vengeance against his perceived political enemies” Ajayo further stated.
He warned of the proliferation of armed groups who claim to be above the law in Ilaje land, alleging that people are being hacked to death while fear, trembling and terror have taken over the land.
“It is on this note that for peace and justice to reign, we demand that President Mohammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to ensure that HRM Oba Akinruntan seize to sponsor armed attacks on the peace loving people of Igbokoda land and order a full scale investigation into the killings in Ilaje land and the use of armed thugs in the election of members of the Ondo State House Assembly that led to the upholding of the certificate of return of the candidates from Ilaje and bring the perpetrators to book,” the group said.
They also called on the Federal Government to launch the mop-up of arms in the hands of non-state actors in Ondo State with detailed emphasis on Ilajeland and Igbokoda in particular.