Ondo State’s traditional ruler, Oba Micah Ajijo, the Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro in the state’s Ilaje Local Government Area, has been violently ousted from his palace by hoodlums.
Following the invasion and brutal removal of the monarch, invited naval officers from the nearby community in Lgbokoda saved him from kidnapping and harm.
The swindlers are said to have destroyed millions of naira worth of property and attempted to assassinate him after forcefully removing him from the throne.
In a letter to Rotimi Akeredolu, the state governor, the monarch raised the alarm, claiming that his troubles began after he ascended the throne in response to a court decision that fired Mr. Oluwanbe Ojagbohunmi, a self-proclaimed community prophet.
As per the ruler, notwithstanding “the decision of the court pronouncing him the conventional ruler and profound top of the local area, Ojagbohunmi and his representatives have been participating in various activities disregarding the court judgment, breaking the harmony and security locally.”
In the letter, Ajijo claimed that his attackers met in the community and decided to “organize and liaise with some criminals and kidnappers within and outside the community to invade the palace at night during the founder’s day anniversary of the community and the church and kidnap Oba Ajijo to enable Ojagbohunmi to take over the leadership of the community and the church.” Ajijo’s claim was made in response to the letter.
“When the gangsters entered the palace with lethal weapons, threatened to kill the monarch, and destroyed millions of naira worth of property, the plans were born.
“The gangsters destroyed two houses built near Mr. Tokunbo Olasile and Rev. Iwasanmi Ajijo’s palace. The victims reported the barbaric acts of destruction to the police in Igbokoda, and the DPO expressed his helplessness in arresting the suspects due to the community’s riverine terrain.
“After being informed of the attack and destruction, the Okitipupa Area Commander, Chairman of Ilaje LG, and Officer in Charge of 19 Battalion, Army Barracks, Okitipupa visited and confirmed the aforementioned criminal activities.
“The fervent pleas of the aforementioned government and security officers to the gangsters were ignored because as soon as the officers left, they once more stormed the palace and destroyed the structure in an effort to kidnap the traditional ruler. The Navy officers from the community nearby had to work hard to save the monarch. Up until this point, Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro has lost property worth N200 million to crimes.
In the meantime, the state police command weekend stated that the troubled community had experienced a restoration of peace following the deployment of security personnel.