Community Alleges Monarch Of Land Grabbing, Seek Govt Intervention

Residents of Ijaregbe, a community in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, protested what they described as the ‘wicked action of the monarch of the town’ towards his subjects on Tuesday. 

The monarch, Oba Edward Adedayo Adetimo, was accused of taking over the land and farms belonging to his subjects.

The aggrieved residents who protested at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osogbo, also alleged some police officers of complacency, adding that the monarch had been using the officers to threaten and intimidate them.

The protesters noted that Oba Adetimo’s actions have led to the death of some people. 

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, an 80-year-old man, Amos Ojo, urged the state Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, head of security agencies and other stakeholders to wade into the matter before it degenerated into a crisis. 

Ojo alleged that he was detained on the instruction of the monarch for over a week at AKAD Police Station, Obokun, because he asked the monarch to stop selling land that belong to indigenes of the community.

He said: “The current situation in Ijaregbe is not good at all. Our monarch, Oba Edward Adedayo Adetimo has turned himself into a god and if prompt action is not taken to curb his excesses, there might be violence in the community.

“The King has virtually taken over all the land and farm in the community and whenever the owners challenged him, he used police officers from Akad police station, Obokun and Zone XI, Osogbo to harass them. 

“No one dared to challenge him. I as a person have been taken to the police station where I was detained for over a week because I told him not to sell my land. 

“People are deserting the community for fear of being arrested by the police who we believe are working in cohort with the king to cause mayhem in the town. 

“We are appealing to the state governor, the Ooni of Ife, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, the senator representing Osun East and other stakeholders to come to our aid.

“We also call on the Director of DSS and the Inspector General of Police to come to our rescue. Police officers who were supposed to be our friends are the ones they were using to intimidate us. 

“Oba Adetimo should be called to order. The government should not wait until the crisis brews up due to the monarch’s actions before wading into the matter.”

Meanwhile, counsel to some of the aggrieved residents, Mr Moses Obaditan, has sent a petition to the state governor.

A copy of the petition dated April 02, 2024 which was cited by OSUN DEFENDER was received by the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state.

The petitioners urged the state government to look into the allegations levelled against the monarch. 

Obaditan, in the petition, “urge the state government to set up a special committee to investigate all the allegations levied against Oba Adetimo.

“We are also suggesting that Oba Edward Adedayo be put on suspension pending the outcome and recommendation of the committee’s report. This will enable the committee to carry out their duties without Oba Edward Interruption.”

Responding to the allegations, Oba Adetimo in a telephone conversation with OSUN DEFENDER on Thursday, said the land in question is a royal family land.

The monarch noted that there was a case pending in court on the affected land asking the petitioners  to wait for the outcome of the case and stop blackmailing him.