Posted by By TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure on
Except the police and other security operatives intervene, the communal clash in Agoo-dada, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State may escalate into a blown war.
• Tug of war over Baale position in Akure
Except the police and other security operatives intervene, the communal clash in Agoo-dada, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State may escalate into a blown war.
The people of the community had engaged one another in a bloody clash over the removal of the Baale of Agoo-dada by some people loyal to the monarch (Deji of Akure) and installed their own.
Daily Sun gathered that trouble stated when the monarch sent his emmisary to the deposed Baale, ordering him and his community to bring all proceeds from their royalties to his palace instead of dividing it and taking some.
It was learnt that the Baale had been dividing his royalties into three parts and sharing them among Deji of Akure, another monarch and Akure North Local Government Area.
When the Baale refused to carry out the order of the Deji of Akure, some people invaded the community and set ablaze Chief Fanibuyans' palm trees and cocoa trees worth millions of naira. The groups also announced the deposition of the Baale. It was gathered that another people loyal to the Baale, apparently, angered by the people who set farms on fire, tried to resist the attack.
In a petition to the state commissioner of police, Chief Ibukun Fanibuyan, Deacon J. O. Ige, Mr. Joseph Adewole and Mr. Joseph Awolo of Agoo-dada community accused the monarch of sending seven men to the community to beat and cause breach of peace in the community.
"They attacked Chief Ibukun Fanibuyan and Joseph Adewole, who were macheted and tied hands and feet with ropes. The bandits brutally used axes, cutlasses and dane guns and were shooting sporadically," the petition stated.
They also accused the group of looting the houses of their victims and carting away thousands of naira, adding that the gang took over the palace of the monarch.
"He said we deserved what we got for being recalcitrant to his order and directives with regards to his administration of Agoo-dada community," the petition reads.
They therefore appealed to the commissioner of police to bring those behind the illegal acts to book, saying that if the attackers are left unpunished they would cause more havoc in the community.