By Kola Ismaheel
The Board of Trustees of Orolu Progressive has alledged threat to lives, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition by some prominent individual in the area.
The body led by its Secretary, Prince Jide Adelaja Akinyooye also noted that there are flagrant disregard for Osun state government peace order at Opapa village area of Orolu Local government, Ifon- Osun.
In a petition against one Asif Azeez and Ola David sent to security agencies and jointly signed by the community and made available to journalists on Tuesday, in Osogbo.
Akinyooye noted that “the community have reached a point where it has become imperative to make members of public and security agencies understand that a few personalities led by one Asif Azeez, the Caretaker Vice-Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Ilobu has been abusing his political office to give cover to other thugs including a popular notorious thug (named Ola David) to terrorize Orolu people and give undue cover to people of llobu community that have been illegally excavating sand and gravel at Opapa Village where the Osun State Government has declared as “RESTRICTED AREA”.
The Secretary stressed that besides violation of the Peace-Pact signed with the Osun State Government, it is alarming that Asif Azeez and his collaborators have continued to threaten the lives of Olokanla people, who are traditional tenants of the Olufon of Ifon- Orolu Kingdom and others chiefs including people of Orolu Local Government.
The Community which appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke and his Cabinet for their prompt intervention on the recent communal crisis among Ifon-Osun, Ilobu and Okanla communities in Irepodun and Orolu Local Government areas of Osun State also commended the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Officers of Department of State Security Services and other security agencies for restoring peace in Orolu community.
He posited that “We are also informing members of the public that Ifon-Osun is now secured, even though threat continue to come from Mr Asif Azeez, Mr Ola David and their gang, threatening further attacks against Ifon Communities.”
Akinyooye noted that the ongoing peace efforts by the present administration in Osun State to resolve the dispute among the concerned communities, May not work unless the conduct of Asif Azeezis checked, the incumbent Caretaker Vice-Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Ilobu who is giving cover to other criminals including Mr. Ola David- a notorious thug is capable of diminishing the image of the government.
He therefore urged appropriate authority of Osun State Government to give attention to the sensitive political recklessness on the part of the Vice-Chairman of the Council.
He equally called on the security agencies in the state to probe gross violation of the Peace-Pact signed with the Osun State Government, Particularly, the issue of sand excavation in Opapa Village that has been takerı over by the Osun State Government.
He further requested the Osun State Government to erect visible signboards in the restricted area in order to discourage continued activities by any of the three communities as these activities, if not fully checked, could frustrate the peace efforts of government.
Akinyooye called on the Inspector General of Police through the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to recover sophisticated guns in possession of Asif Azeez, the incumbent Caretaker Vice-Chairman of Irepodun Local Government and his team.
Investigation should also be made to unveil the source of the arms and ammunition being boastfully brandished by one Asif Azeez in a viral picture making the round on social media as we all know that Asif Azeez is not a security agent that could be lawfully entitled to carry arms and ammunition in such a manner”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu in Irepodun local government areas of Osun state, Barrister Adegoke Ogunshola has said that the indigenes of the Ilobu community have never violated the peace agreement following the communal clash with the Ifon Osun community that led to the loss of lives and properties.
Reacting to the allegation of the Orolu Progressive Board of Trustees on terrorizing Orolu indigenes and excavating sand and gravel at Opapa Village, on Thursday, Ogunshola said that people of Ilobu who are quarry business owners did not excavate sand at the disputed area.
He said, “Some quarry business owners went to take sand on the 28 of November 2023 and the place doesn’t fall within the land dispute they were not arrested at the quarry site, they were arrested along Gbeere road, Ilobu the driver and the two assistants and the vehicle were taken to custody in Ifon Osun and those people that were arrested are currently in detention at the CID osogbo since the 28 of November.
“It’s not true that these people went to disputed land that has been acquired by the state government.
“Since the 6 of October, we have complied with the peace agreement and there has never been a time we violated any part of the peace agreement.
“But there are incidents where people of Ifon Osun attacked indigenes of Ilobu violently and we have so many instances, the indigene of Ilobu who are farmers and retailers in about 15 villages have not been allowed to go to their farms just because they will pass through Ifon Osun and they are not even within the territory of Osun State but o State.
“We want to appeal to the commissioner of police that he should not be one-sided because up till this moment nobody has been arrested or prosecuted from Ifon Osun but four to five people indigenes Ilobu have been charged to court.
However, the Vice Chairman Of Irepodun Local Government, Azeez Asif the vice also denied the allegation of terrorizing the indigene of Ifon Osun.
Asif said, “The allegations against me are a big lie, have never threatened any indigene of Ifon osun or had any issue with anybody.
“All the allegations are just baseless rumors to block my good work towards the people of my community and to tarnish my image as the Vice Chairman”. he said.
