By Victor Akinkuolie

The Ondo State Boundary Commission has appealed to traditional rulers in the state to synergise and form a strong coalition to curb the escalating boundary crises affecting their various communities.

The Commission posited that with love and unity among traditional rulers, some of the protracted boundary disputes being experienced in their towns could have been resolved before escalating into violence and bloodshed.

The Secretary of the Commission, who also oversees mediation, Surveyor Francis Adaramola, stated this on Wednesday while brokering peace in a boundary dispute between Ajue and Igunshin communities in Odigbo and Ondo West Local Government Areas, respectively.

The government’s intervention followed petitions from both communities, each claiming ownership of a parcel of land located at the border between their territories.

Presiding over a peace parley at the Secretariat of Okitipupa Local Government area, the Commission urged the Akogbe of Ajue, Oba Bamidele Akinwe, and his counterpart from Igunshin, Oba Lawrence Akinsunoye, to meet and find a mutually beneficial resolution to the long-standing land dispute.

Emphasising the need for peace, the Commission encouraged both monarchs to adopt a spirit of compromise and negotiation to allow for an amicable demarcation of the disputed boundary in the interest of unity and brotherhood.

The conflict began when Oba Bamidele Akinwe, the Akogbe of Ajue, attempted to install a Baale (community leader) in one of the villages in the disputed area. The Igunshin community, claiming the village as part of its territory, strongly opposed the move, leading to clashes between the two towns.

The matter was subsequently taken to the Ondo State High Court before being referred to the Ondo State Boundary Resolution Committee for further investigation. The committee was tasked with determining the exact extent of the disputed land and facilitating an amicable resolution.

During a visit to the disputed land, the Commission emphasised that the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by the government was a policy aimed at fostering development and should not serve as a basis for boundary disputes between communities.

“The issue of land should not be allowed to divide us. Our forefathers, who founded these communities, did not dwell on ownership of land but rather focused on love, unity, and togetherness.

“You are interconnected, either through marriage or other social ties. You cannot afford to fight among yourselves. A perfect demarcation may not be possible, which is why the spirit of compromise and mutual understanding should prevail in this matter,” the Commission stated.

In his response, the Alara of Igunshin, Oba Lawrence Akinsunoye, insisted that the disputed land had belonged to his community from time immemorial. He cited two popular rivers in the area, “Lioh and Oloh,” as the natural boundary between Igunshin and Ajue. He maintained that the installation of a Baale in one of the villages, which sparked the conflict, was within his legitimate rights.

“I want the government to intervene and properly demarcate the land. I won the case in court, yet internal mechanisms to resolve the matter have failed. Only the government can bring a lasting solution to this issue. We stand for peace and will always advocate for peace,” Oba Akinsunoye explained.

The monarch further stated that his people had planted economic crops such as palm trees, cocoa, kolanut, and plantain on the land for decades before Ajue town began laying claim to the area.

At the parley, the Akogbe of Ajue, Oba Bamidele Akinwe, accused the people of Igunshin of intimidating his community members over the land, describing their actions as unacceptable and capable of inciting violence.

Oba Akinwe insisted that the land rightfully belonged to his people, stressing that its historical significance made it difficult for them to accept sharing it with another town or embracing the idea of compromise.

During the Commission’s visit to the disputed site, representatives from both communities—four from each side—presented their claims by identifying various rivers and landmarks as evidence of their ownership