Kunle Adelabu
The traditional ruler of Isiwu, a community in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ikorodu Division of Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, His Royal Majesty, Oba Olukayode David Raji Balogun, the Eweye of Isiwu, has sent a ‘Save our Soul’ (SOS) appeal to the state and federal governments for intervention in the state of insecurity in the community.
He called for the establishment of a police station and more presence of security personnel in the town to ward off alleged constant attack by landgrabbers, popularly called ‘Ajagungbale’ in local parlance.
THE IMPACT gathered that some landgrabbers again invaded lsiwu community recently and laid siege for many days, a situation which created great fear for the residents.
The hoodlums, according to report, allegedly dispossessed a lawyer of his money before he was killed while many others sustained injuries during the invasion.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Oba Balogun who said that people in his community now live in fear, called on the government, both at state and federal levels, to intervene and restore peace to his domain.
He called for the establishment of a police station in his area to checkmate the attacks by the hoodlums.
“I have been doing everything to bring peace to my community and also ensure the safety of lives and properties of residents, but some elements are hell-bent on causing troubles. They have been using ‘Ajagungbales’ to disturb us”, Oba Balogun said.
“I want the government’s intervention in building a police station because Isiwu is now a big community with close to 10, 000 residents.
“The attack is too much and we really need the government to come to our rescue”, the royal father said.
“They are attacking my community because I emerged as the Oba and because they wanted to have access to our land. I need the government’s assistance to stop them.
“It was the government that gave me the staff of office and certificate of appointment as the Oba of this town and as a result, I am appealing to both state and federal governments to assist us in stopping these incessant attacks on our community by some people who are using guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons to inflicting wounds on our people”.
He said that he had met with his chiefs and stakeholders in the town to discuss the incessant attacks and that it was resolved that the government must be notified for immediate action.
“I have been discussing the issue of insecurity with my chiefs and other stakeholders, both in and outside the town, and we have resolved to let the whole world know about the incessant attacks.
“I have also notified the government and the Lagos Commissioner of Police on the situation. Also, we have equally notified the authority at the federal level and we are not relenting”, Eweye of lsiwu said.
The traditional ruler, who escaped being killed some months back when hoodlums attacked his palace and shot severally at the building and also damaged his car among other properties, alleged that despite all the efforts they have made so far, hoodlums are still after his life and attacking his people.
“Despite all these, these people are still attacking and disturbing us. Their aim is to kill or kidnap me but I have been prevailing. I don't really know why they are after me”, Oba Balogun said.
“I didn’t pick myself as the Oba of Isiwu, l emerged from the process supervised by the royal family and the government gave its approval and presented me with the Staff of Office and Certificate of Appointment after my confirmation”.
The Vicar – in – Charge of the St. Peters Anglican Church, Isiwu, Revd. John Omotosho, also charged the state and federal authorities to intervene in the community’s security situation by establishing a police station and an army barracks to deal with the activities of bandits and Ajagungbales disturbing the community.
“The security architecture of this community is nothing to write about. We need peace in this community. Both state and federal governments must do something as a matter of urgency in this regard”, he said.
“We need police posts and army barracks in this environment because we are tired of the herdsmen, bandits and landgrabbers who have been disturbing us in our community”, he lamented.
A chieftain of the community, while also reacting, described the problem in Isiwu as a battle between two factions of landgrabbers who are disturbing the peace of the town.
“The problem with our community is caused by the Ajagungbales who are after the land in Isiwu. It is a case of two groups flexing their muscles in an attempt to take over lands in lsiwu.
“This is what they have been doing but now that we have an Oba on the throne, they need to submit themselves to the royal authority but I think that is difficult for them to do and that is the more reason we need urgent government’s intervention”, the chieftain said.
An eyewitness alleged that those disturbing the community are agents of one Owoeye, a popular ‘Ajagungbale’.
He said that the man that was killed last weekend was shot several times.
“They have been seen around for a while terrorising our community and they came back in the night last Saturday and killed De Law (not real name), a popular man who owned a block industry”, he said.
“Before he was killed, De Law withdrew a large sum of money at a Paga and was accosted by these Owoeye’s guys who had laid siege behind the pipeline.
“The man was stopped by the assailants and asked to lay on the ground while he was dispossessed of his money.
“He spoke with them and from their conversation; it seemed that the man knew some of the guys. Suddenly, we heard sporadic shootings.
“There were several bullet holes on his body and they also dispossessed him of his money” he told our reporter.
The eyewitness added that the Police later came to remove the body of the victim.
