Akeredolu Bemoans Spate of Lawlessness In Ilaje

…. advises Traditional Rulers And Security To Brace Up.

The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has described as unacceptable the spate of lawlessness taking place in Ilaje Local Government Area of the State.

Arakunrin Akeredolu bared his mind today in Akure in a message to a meeting with the leaders of Ilaje.
Represented by his Deputy, Honourable Agboola Ajayi, the Governor highlighted the specific concerns of the government.

“I am daily inundated with messages and pictures of events going on in the area.
We are fully briefed. Having listened to all of you, this government is concerned with the criminality of the situation on ground.
We can no longer condoned the wasting of human lives, which has reached about forty of recent.
I must commend the security men for what they are doing. However, they must do better by improving what we have on ground.
The kingpin of this lawlessness, whom you have mentioned here must be arrested and briught to book.
He cannot be law unto himself. Enough is enough”

He also advised the traditional rulers to join hands with the government in its drive to make the area conducive for investment.
“As traditional rulers, you know your people in the communities.
Henceforth, you must join hands together, all of you from the King to the chiefs and village heads to nip in the bud all activities being perpetrated by youths against government projects.
Take control of your domains, otherwise, government will do it for you.
Our effort to collect arms from militants is meant to make the area peaceful so that our plans to develop the area can go unhindered.”

According to him, the government had stopped appointment of Baales and Olojas by the king.

“Let me remind you that the ban on appointment of baales and Olojas for the communities by the Olu still subsists.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will send a reminder to that effect. We will look into your call to set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry”

Earlier, Olu of Igbokoda, His Royal Highness, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, Baale of Dimetan, Chief Kehinde Dimetan Community and Oloja of Kofawe, Mahin Kingdom Barrister Japhet Oluwajuwon as well as a Community Leader had traded accusations on causes of the mayhem, while calling for Judicial Commission of Enquiry to solve the problem.
The Baale and Oloja alleged that the Olu of Igbokoda sponsored thugs to carry out the attacks in his bid to take away their land.

However, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Odidiomo expressed shock about the allegation, citing instances where he had been subjected to physical attacks by miscreants.

The Divisional Police Officer Igbokoda, Supretendent of Police, Akingbade Adebayo painted the picture of how the area was being controlled by bandits and his efforts at curtailing them.
He also supported the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to unravel the source of the problem.