Our correspondent report that there had been accusations and counter-accusations that Oba Odidiomo was desperate to forcefully take over the Iwatan family land.
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Six persons have lost their lives to a violent attack that occurred
on Wednesday in Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, a resident
has told SaharaReporters.
The resident, who identified himself as Mr. Enitan Ayenuro, told a
SaharaReporters correspondent in Akure that the violence might have
ensued as a result of a land tussle between the Olu of Igbokoda
Kingdom, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo and the family house of Prince Tale
Iwatan, in Temitan community.
Our correspondent report that there had been accusations and counter-accusations that Oba Odidiomo was desperate to forcefully take over the
Iwatan family land.
According to Mr. Ayenuro, some of the hoodlums working on the orders
of Oba Odidiomo stormed the family house of Prince Tale Iwatan and
attacked the residential building of the family.
He revealed that the hoodlums armed with guns, clubs, and other
dangerous weapons shot sporadically into the air and went on a
rampage in the area.
Mr. Ayenuro disclosed that the hoodlums attacked residents of the
compound and set personal belongs of the Iwatan's family ablaze,
including a Volkswagen vehicle and motorcycle.
SaharaReporters also gathered from associates close to the two
families, that the violent attack was the second in six months.
Also, another source in the community, who pleaded not to be named, corroborated the story and told Saharareporters that the
violence was caused by a long battle between the supporters
of the Olu of Igbokoda Kingdom, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, and the late Titi
Olalebi royal family.
It was exclusively gathered that late Titi Olalebi is a cousin to the
Tale Iwatan ruling house.
"It was a communal clash that resulted into the violence. You would
recall that some loyalists of Oba Odidiomo murdered the late Olalebi
in a gruesome attack in 2013.
"Since then there had been threats from the two famies and everyone
has been very careful about the situation here in Ilaje", the source
added.
SaharaReporters can authoritatively report that Oba Odidiomo and his
cohorts have been standing trial in court since last year over the
death of the late Olalebi.
However, the Police image maker in the State, Wole Ogodo, told
journalists when contacted on phone confirmed the incident.
Ogodo said that Anti-riot policemen have been dispatched to the community
to maintain law and order.