Osun Communal Crisis: Board of Trustees Decry Threat to Lives, Unlawful Possession of Arms, Ammunition

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Board of Trustees of Orolu Progressive, led by its Secretary, Mr. Jide Adelaja Akinyooye, yesterday called attention to threat to lives, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition by some prominent individual in the area.

The body also noted that there are flagrant disregard for Osun State Government’s peace order at Opapa village area of Orolu Local Government, Ifon- Osun.

In a petition against one Asif Azeez and Ola David that was sent to security  agencies and jointly signed by the community yesterday 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 terrorise 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 alleged 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 Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and his cabinet for their prompt intervention in the recent communal crisis among Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government, Ilobu, and Okanla communities in Irepodun Local Government 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 alleged that the ongoing peace efforts by the present administration in Osun State to resolve the dispute among the concerned communities might not work unless the  conduct of  Asif Azeezis is checked, the incumbent caretaker vice chairman of Irepodun Local Government Ilobu who is giving cover to other alleged 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 taken 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 allegedly in possession of Asif Azeez.

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.