Armed thugs unleash terror on Ondo community, injure 30

There was tension in Ayetoro community, Ilaje Council of Ondo State on Thursday as a gang of armed thugs, numbering 15, unleashed terror on the residents, injuring over 30 people.

It was alleged that the bandits, mobilised from Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Council, and Lagos State, were invited to the community by the embattled king, Micah Ajijo.

According to a source in Akure, yesterday, the mayhem broke out when one Isaac Ikuyelorimi, who lives close to Ajijo’s house, was challenged by a member of the gang for playing music in his house, because he was disturbing them, but Isaac told them they have no right to stop him.

“Before we know it, it turned to a heated argument and the other thugs in Ajijo’s house rushed out to attack him and everybody in the neighbourhood, stabbing people with bottles, knives and cutlasses,” the source disclosed.

Chairman of Ayetoro Youth Congress, Iretolu Ajinde, explained that the thugs were invited to the town to ferment trouble and disrupt the annual Founder’s Day Anniversary, slated for today.

He alleged that when men of the Police mobile force were stationed there to maintain peace were making efforts to restore peace, one of the thugs snatched a police officer’s gun and shot at the people, adding: “It was after the situation had gone out of hand that we called the police station in Igbokoda and Naval base for help. By then, the armed mercenaries had run into Ajijo’s house for safety.”

This crisis was sequel to the prolonged kingship tussle in the theocratic community since 2015, when Ajijo allegedly imposed himself as the Ogeleyinbo, immediately after the demise of the last king, Gad Asogbon.

There had been protests against his ascension to the throne by over 90 per cent of the community, leading to the closure of the only church in the community, the Holy Apostles Church since last year.

Iretolu noted that the security teams from Igbokoda were able to restore peace to the community and arrested the thugs, alongside Ajijo, and took them to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, while those seriously wounded were receiving treatment in the area.

But one of the embattled king’s kinsmen, Moboluwaji Ajijo, said it was the community that attacked his brother and supporters during morning devotion in his house.

He accused Prophet Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, the Alakoso and grandson of the Founder of the community, the late King Peter Ojagbohunmi, of inciting the people against Ajijo.

“The incident happened less than three days Kabiyesi came back from overseas trip in preparation for the town annual Founders’ Day Anniversary, which usually takes place in January every year.

“The whereabouts of the king is unknown.”

He further alleged that the attack was aimed at “driving the king, his immediate family, chiefs and supporters out of the town, by so doing taking over the total control of the religious town, while the mobile detachment posted to the town were looking helplessly.”

He noted that Oluwambe and his band of prophets thwarted all efforts by the state government, led by the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, to restore peace in the community.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident, adding that the Police arrested the thugs.

“Some miscreants went there and attacked the people. As I speak with you, they are in court. We made some arrest, over 20 of them,” he said.