There was pandemonium yesterday in Ado-Odo area of Ogun State as the palace of a monarch, the Olofin of Ado-Odo, Oba Lateef Adeniran Akanni, was razed by some aggrieved youths.
The monarch, Nigerian Compass learnt, had been having a running battle with some interest groups in the community, who allegedly did not want him despite a Supreme Court judgement validating his appointment three years ago.
According to sources, Oba Akanni was hospitalised following the severe beating he received from the rampaging youths.
The burnt palace has also been deserted as wives, children, family members and servants fled the area apparently for fear of being attacked again.
Trouble was said to have started for the traditional ruler when his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was flagged down by some people in the community.
In the process of attending to the people, the unsuspecting monarch was dragged out of his vehicle, beaten and stripped.
Though the incident may not be unconnected with the chieftaincy crisis in the town, another source attributed it to an alleged accident involving the monarch a few days ago.
Oba Akanni, according to the source, allegedly failed to visit a victim of the accident, a development which reportedly infuriated some community youths who plotted the attack.
The violence prompted the state Police Commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye, and the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Muyiwa Oladipo, to visit the area and douse tension.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said normalcy had been restored to the community.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), however, said he was unaware of the alleged stripping of the monarch.
“I know some people went to the palace and attacked the Oba of Ado-Odo but normalcy has been restored to the town. The Commissioner of Police has been there and we are going to ensure that the needful is done to bring all those involved in the act to book,” he added.
Also yesterday, the Ogun State government appealed to the people of Ado-Odo community to shun violence and maintain peace in order to promote socio-economic development of the state.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Muyiwa Oladipo, the government described the attack on the monarch as “sheer lawlessness.”
Oladipo said there were ways the people could adopt to show their displeasure over the installation of the monarch that was reinstalled by the Supreme Court of the land rather than resorting to burning of houses, beating people and harassing the monarch.
While assuring the people of the state government’s readiness to find a lasting solution to the chieftaincy crisis, the commissioner said a panel of inquiry would be set up to look into the remote and immediate causes of the attack.
He called on all the sons and daughters of the community to come and tender relevant information that could be of assistance in resolving the crisis.
NigerianCompass
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