Over Ido-Aiyegunle Chieftaincy Dispute
The people of Esa Oke, in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State were rudely woken up Monday morning, (3rd February, 2025) by booming sounds of guns and with peppery eyes caused by the unrestrained detonation of tear gas by a contingent of police from outside the town.
The tragic drama had started around midnight when some people dressed in police uniform stormed the residence of Obanla of Ido-Aiyegunle, popularly called Walter.
The team were alleged to have forcefully removed the burglaries to the house and bundled the man away. The youths were started to have been alarmed by the act as they suspected kidnapping.
www.esaoketodayonline.com later learnt that the abductors were from Ilesa. They were said to be planning to install one of their own as the Olujudo of Ido-Aiyegunle, an area which Esa Oke community laid solid claims of.
However, more surprises were to come very early in the morning when a bus-load of gunmen entered the town and started shooting sporadically.
Immediately, the abduction of Walter was linked with the raging Olujudo of Ido Aiyegunle chieftaincy imbroglio.
Many people spoken to heaped all the blames on the Governor of the State, Mr. Ademola Adeleke.
www.esaoketodayonline.com can recalled that just last week Monday, 27 January, 2025, the State Government had announced the appointment of one Oluwatimileyin Isaac Ajayi, an Ilesa indigene, as the Olujudo of Ido Aiyegunle. This the Esa Oke people seriously objected to.
The community in indigenous to Esa Oke and therefore under the traditional assent of the Owa Omiran of Esa Oke and not that of the Owa of Ilesa.
When the correspondents ofwww. Esaoketodayonline.com called the Divisional Police Officer, DSP Temitope, he snappily said: “I am busy now. Very busy”. He then cut off the line.
However, the reports from eye witnesses painted a gory picture of killings, maiming and trauma within the ancient community.
One caller said more than fifty youths have been hit by stray bullets while about four (4) others were said to have lost their lives.
The incident was worsen by the fact that the day was a market day. The traders converging at the market square were hurriedly dispersed and stalls closed.
Also, movement inwards and outwards the town were turned back by stern looking policemen.
By afternoon, a contingent of soldiers were said to have joined the police.
What surprises many was the patrolling of the police and soldiers round the town.
A youth leader who called www.esaoketodayonline.com said the security team came in and started moving round the town shooting at anything figure in sight.