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Ago Alaye clashes: Akeredolu vows to punish culprits

Ago Alaye clashes: Akeredolu vows to punish culprits

panel of inquiry coming

arrests have been made – CP

By Adekola Afolabi
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Perpetrators of violence at Ago Alaye, a farm settlement in Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State where two people were confirmed dead will be punished, the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has vowed.

Shocked by the degree of violence unleashed on the innocent persons, Akeredolu said a panel of inquiry would soon be constituted to look into the immediate and remote causes of what he described as unfortunate and needless violence.

The Governor, who paid an unscheduled visit to the affected areas yesterday said those who perpetrated the violence deserved to be punished to serve as a deterrent to others who disturbed the peace of any community in the state.

Apart from two people who died in the crisis, several people were also injured while property were destroyed.

He expressed displeasure over the bloody clashes, warning that such incident must not repeat itself again.

The governor noted that total curfew has been placed on Ago Alaye Community while there would be no movement for some times until government was convinced that the affected community was ready to comply with terms of the state government.

The governor was accompanied on the unscheduled visit by State Commissioner of Police, Mr Undie Adie, the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brigadier-General Abubakar Zakari and some members of the State Executive Council.

He stressed on the need to prevent the incident from escalating adding that the step was taken in the overall interest of the inhabitants of the area as well as adjoining towns and villages.

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A visit to the community showed that those living at Ago Alaye have deserted the area as nobody was found in the community. The Ikales and the Araromi-Obu are laying claim to the disputed Ago Alaye, a farm settlements.

The governor expressed his displeasure at the level of damage to property which had for years been place of residents for people working at the Rubber Estates Nigeria Ltd.

The Governor also visited Rubber Estates Nigeria Ltd, RENL, where he assured the management of the company of adequate security of their lives and property for them to continue to go about their business operations.

Akeredolu said the continued operations of RENL was important to the government in view of the employment generation to citizens of the state and revenues accruing to the state from the company.

The Managing Director, RENL, Mr Phillip Carty, lauded the State Governor for the visit.

At the Palace of Ajobu of Araromi-Obu, Oba Aderemi Adelola, Governor Akeredolu condemned the destruction of lives and property over a disputed land that was still pending in court, commending the monarch and the people of Araromi-Obu for their peaceful conduct.

The governor also used the occasion to appeal to them not to embark on reprisal attacks on the Ikales, saying that two wrongs could never make a right.

Welcoming the governor and his entourage, the Ajobu of Araromi-Obu, Oba Aderemi Adelola appreciated him for his concern, assuring him that his people would continue to maintain peace in their domains without any reprisal attacks.

He claimed that apart from the killing, the Ikales also burnt, destroyed and looted properties and other valuables belonging to the people of Araromi-Obu including his own during the incident.

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The monarch, however, appealed to the governor to assist those whose properties were destroyed in the incident.

Also, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Undie Adie, disclosed that some people have been arrested and are being interrogated in connection with the clashes.

He said his officers and men including those in the state Central Investigation Department (CID), would continue to remain in the affected communities until peace completely returns to the affected areas.

The governor also visited the Abodi of Ikale Land, Oba George Babatunde Faduyile, where he charged the monarch to talk to those perpetrating crimes in the area to stop it.

Oba Faduyile who thanked the governor for the visit, also supported the governor’s position to set up a panel of Inquiry to look into the matter.

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