Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the violent attack on the Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelili Olaiya, and the destruction of his palace by irate youths.
The governor, in a firm warning on Saturday, cautioned against further acts of lawlessness and ordered security agencies to apprehend those responsible.
The unrest reportedly stemmed from the monarch’s installation of a Chief Imam in December 2024, a decision that angered certain youths from the neighboring Ido Osun community.
A source, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, revealed that the aggrieved youths staged a protest that escalated into violence.
“The protest however turned violent. Part of the palace was vandalised and the monarch was injured,” the source disclosed.
“The youths from Ido Osun did not want the monarch to install an Imam there because the area is under Ido Osun. Security agents have taken over the premises of the palace,”it added.
Images from the scene showed debris, including broken plastic chairs, scattered across a hall within the Ajeniju’s palace.
Reacting to the incident, Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, criticized the resort to violence and tasked the Commissioner of Police with securing the area and arresting the perpetrators.
“Resorting to violence to resolve communal disputes is unacceptable and those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law,” Adeleke declared.
The governor also directed the Olojudo of Ido Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde, to rein in the unruly youths from his community, urging them to maintain peace while law enforcement takes its course.
In addition, he instructed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Dosu Babatunde, to initiate peace-building efforts and work with security agencies to de-escalate tensions.
“Any community with grievances is free to approach relevant government agencies to table such for conflict resolution. We will not tolerate violence under whatever guise,” Adeleke emphasized.
