Creation of Police station triggers tension in Ondo, as Ifon community demands new monarch
Tension is currently building up as Ifon community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State has rejected the inclusion of their villages and farm settlements in the newly created police division at Ikaro – a local town in the council area.
According to the leaders, the inclusion of villages and farm settlements such as Elegbeka, Omi Afa, Ago Corner, Orin Ohin, Olufa, Osomaalo, Iju-Agbonrin and others could caused communal clashes with the creation of the police division in Ikaro.
The leaders disclosed this in a letter addressed to the State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday.
The copy of the letter was addressed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the security adviser to the governor, the chairman of Ose LGA, the AIG, Zone 17, Akure and the Director of the DSS.
The letter was jointly signed by Chief Samuel Bamidele, the Adeule of Ifon; Chief Olu Aiside, the Elerewe of Ifon; Chief Ajayi Akinbode, the Oturu of Ifon; Chief Olorunyomi Olaye, the Asosanyin of Ifon and the Baale of Elegbeka- Ifon; Chief Aanuoluwapo Amudeli, Apasewa of Ifon and Baale of Omi Alafa-Ifon.
The leaders explained that the creation of the police division in Ikaro out of the Ifon Divisional Police could trigger clashes and an unrest among the local indigenes of the communities.
“We wish to draw your urgent attention to a situation that is capable of leading to a serious communal clash between Ifon and Ikaro towns, consequently upon the creation of the Ikaro Police Division out of the Ifon Divisional Police Headquarters.
“This is welcome development because it will enhance and fortify security presence in our environment.
However, it’s very germane and crucial to state that the development may occasion communal clashes and unrest, and for this, we’re calling on you to note the following,” they said.
According to them, the newly
created police division must exclude the villages, farm settlements, and camps as they are customarily under the jurisdiction, control, and purview of the Olufon of Ifon.
The leaders noted historically that the appointment of the village chiefs, also known as Baales, is carried out by the Ifon monarch to oversee the towns.
“For political reasons, Ikaro and Elegbeka shares the same political ward in Ose local government area (Ward 8), due to the fact that Ikaro town did not meet the INEC requirements to have its separate political ward.
Judging from the number of polling units in Ikaro and the number of registered voters in the community, hence Elegbeka, the other camps and villages in Ifon had a political ward created for them by INEC in 1998, known and called Ikaro/Elegbeka ward 8.
Out of the 15 polling units in Ikaro/Elegbeka wand 8, Ikaro has just 5, while the other villages and camps belonging to Ifon in the ward have 10 units.
“Therefore, aside from election purposes, all these villages and camps belonging to the Ifon community have no relationship with Ikaro town and are not answerable to the community traditional leadership in any way.
“The Baales of all these villages and their Community Chairmen were appointed by the Olufon of Ifon, and they are all answerable to him, being his repugnant to natural justice, equally and good conscience to indirectly migrate our people to Ikaro land!
“Prior to this period, Ikaro has been laying false claims to the warship of name of these villages and had instituted some court actions against lfon on the matters.
The people of ikaro will definitely take advantage of the creation of a Divisional headquarters in the town to step on toes and annex our lands.
Such nefarious and sacrilegious acts and intentions must be guarded against, and the CP must be very mindful not to exercebate communal clashes,” they added.
While stressing that the community is being conscious, the leaders revealed that they have recorded some cases of encroachment on their land by the people of Ikaro.
They said the development was also caused by the absence of the Olufon of Ifon – a first class Oba, who was brutally murdered by armed bandits in November 2020.
“We are not against the creation of a Police division in Ikaro town but frowned at putting our villages and camps under the division.
“Bearing in mind that the first Police station in Ifon was in 1954, we urgently demand the creation of a Police outpost in Elegbela, coupled with the creation of an Area Command in Ifon, the local government headquarters.
“The creation of the Ikaro divisional headquarters and the inclusion of our villages and camps under it can lead to serious crises that must be avoided and nipped in the bud.”
“Conclusively all the above-mentioned villages and camps belonging to ifon are pleased and comfortable to remain under the Ifon divisional headquarters as it is considered an aberration to have civil and criminal cases in our area treated outside fon divisional police headquarters as it used to be,” the leader said.
They, however, said the operations of the police in the communities can only be enjoyed in collaboration with the support of the traditional leaders.
Meanwhile, Publicity Secretary of Ifon Community Development Association (ICDA), Olaniyi Eni-Olotu, has asked for the installation of a new Olufon of Ifon.
Eni-Olotu, in a chat with reporters, said Governor Aiyedatiwa should allow the kingmakers to begin the process of installing a new monarch for the town.
He attributed the absence of a long vacuum created by the demise of the ex-monarch to the prevailing security crisis and other troubling incidents in the town.
