An enduring and violent chieftaincy dispute within the Akinola family has intensified, resulting in a fresh attack on October 1, 2025. The incident, which occurred on Nigeria’s Independence Day, targeted the surviving family of the late Professor Olatunde Akinola, intensifying the severe security risks associated with the contested title of Maiyegun of Isolo Community, Akure, Ondo State.
The latest act of aggression is allegedly linked to the faction led by Prince Olufemi Akinola, a contender who has repeatedly sought to appropriate the chieftaincy position. Reports indicate that suspected assailants, seemingly frustrated by the ongoing delay in securing the title, launched a targeted operation against Mrs. Florence Akinola, the widow of the late Professor. The attack was accompanied by intensified written threats, explicitly stating the intent to eliminate all male members of Professor Akinola’s lineage to ensure the family cannot produce a successor to the title.
Context of Ongoing Persecution and Loss
The 2025 assault directly follows a severe incident of violence reported on January 14, 2019. During that attack, Professor Akinola’s residence was vandalized, and both he and Mrs. Akinola sustained debilitating injuries, including a machete wound to the Professor and a fractured leg for his wife.
Tragically, family sources confirm that the prolonged medical complications stemming from the 2019 injuries ultimately led to the death of Professor Olatunde Akinola. His demise highlights the profound personal toll exacted by the protracted disagreement over the succession of the late Chief Moses Akinola.
Family Safety and Heir’s Appeal
Following the initial 2019 attack, Professor Akinola had proactively moved to safeguard his children, advising his younger son to remain in Australia and urging his elder son and rightful heir, Mr. Ayobami Akinola, to seek protection in the United States. Despite these measures, the latest attack confirms that the threat to the family remains acute, particularly for Mrs. Florence Akinola, who is now the most vulnerable figure in Nigeria.
Mr. Ayobami Akinola, the presumptive heir to the Maiyegun title, has publicly stated that his life and the life of his mother are under credible threat from the rival faction.
Witness accounts and close observers of the dispute have consistently stressed that the security of Professor Akinola’s family members cannot be guaranteed anywhere within Nigeria. They cite the existence of a highly organized network of alleged informants operating on behalf of the opponents, effectively nullifying any safe haven within the country.
The matter continues to be a major source of instability and contention within the Isolo Community. The chieftaincy title of Maiyegun of Isolo Community remains officially vacant, with the appointment deferred until the underlying dispute is definitively and legally resolved.