Land dispute: Ago Alaye residents flee community

From Akinnodi Francis, Ore
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For the fear of reprisal attack, the residents of Ago Alaye, Araromi Obu, in Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State have deserted their homes over prolonged land dispute which broke out about three weeks ago with their neighbouring Ikale community in Okitipupa Local Government area.

The town could best be described as a ghost community.

The violence left at least four persons dead and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the agrarian community.

The Hope corres-pondent who visited Ago Alaye yesterday gathered that houses in the camp were under lock and key even with the presence armed security officers.

A  man, who does not want to be mentioned said the villagers fled their homes for fear of being attacked despite the security put in place by the government.

It was gathered that the crisis has brought the economic and social activities in the area to a standstill.

“The man said if not for the intervention of the Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, and the security agencies in the state, the crisis would have snowballed into a huge conflagration beyond what was witnessed. And despite that, the people could no longer stay in their homes not to talk of going to their farms”.

It was gathered from the people of Araromi Obu that they heard information yesterday that the Ikale people were planning a reprisal attack which made houses and shops to close down in the town.

More security personnel were also seen during The Hope visit moving into the town to beef up the security of lives and properties of the people in the area.

A cocoa farmer along the road leading to the community who spoke with The Hope  urged the two communities to embrace peace so that people could go back to their work.

“As you can see now, we are only managing to do our business since the crisis started and it has affected us.

A motorcyclist in the area also said, “hardly can we see passengers nowadays. People are afraid to come out, while those in Ago Alaye have run away the village. We appeal to the government to find a lasting solution to the dispute,” he said.

According to him, the indigenes of the community fled their homes over fear of being attacked by the people of Ikale, saying, “the people moved from house to house, looting goods and properties of the people.”

He said apart from this, the rubber plantation was one of the main causes of friction between the two communities.