Student Killed, Houses Razed As Land Dispute Turns Bloody Btw Osun, Oyo Communities

• Osun Village Heads Accuse Offa-Igbo Prince Of Masterminding Attack

• I’m Not A Criminal, My People Were Killed – Prince Adeboye

A recurrent land dispute between the Paku village of Oke-Oba, Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, and the neighbouring Offa-Igbo village in Lagelu local government of Oyo State has resulted in the loss of lives and property.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the bloody clash occurred on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 between 6am and 7am when some farmers at Paku village were reportedly attacked by some thugs from Offa-Igbo.

The Paku village farmers were on their farm to harvest palm kernels when they were reportedly shot by the gunmen.

It was gathered that a student of Al-Ummah College of Education, Iwo, Mr Toheeb Adewale, was killed in the attack, while houses were reportedly razed at Paku village.

Adewale was the Governor of his class. He was studying English and Political Science.

His father, Olalekan Jelil, confirmed his death, saying “Toheeb was killed on the farm. He went to harvest palm kernel at the farm at Paku village.”

A resident of Paku village who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under the condition of anonymity said: “After attacking the people on the farm, those thugs also entered our village to attack us in their usual way. They have killed one of us, Toheeb, and they injured many people. They also burnt our houses. They retreated to Offa after that”.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident, disclosing that investigations were ongoing on the matter.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the community head of the village, Chief Isiaka Akinronbi, accused Prince Akeem Adeboye, the son of the late Olofa of Offa-Igbo, Oba Adeboye Salako Sinade, of masterminding the attack.

But Adeoye, in a swift reaction, denied the allegation, stating that it was the Paku villagers who attacked his farm and killed two guards working there.

According to Akinronbi, the attackers killed one and injured three people who were with him on the farm.

He said: “We went to harvest our palm kernel on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of this month. When we returned to the farm on the 7th, we discovered that some parts of our land had been pegged after measurement. We destroyed the pegs and continued our work.

“Not quite long, some thugs from Offa-Igbo stormed our farms. They started shooting at us and we all scampered for safety. We were about eight on the farm. The Thugs were allegedly led by Akeem Adeboye Salako, we call him Aremo Olofa.

“I discovered that one person was missing among us, so we returned to the farm when the dust had settled. We met the corpse of Toheeb on the ground. I called his father to inform him and we reported the case to the police at Iwo Divisional Police headquarters. We were directed to the State Criminal Investigations Department in Osogbo from there. We also reported to Oluwo who advised that we report the case at Zone 11.

“Among the eight of us who went to the farm, one person was killed, two sustained gunshot injuries while another person was catapulted in the eye.

“That Akeem has been allegedly terrorising us for the past seven month. Oluwo had been prevailing on us not to fight, and we have taken the matter to court.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Akinronbi, through his lawyer, Mr. Yemi Abolusodun, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11.

The petition which was sighted by the medium yesterday reads party: “Akeem Adeboye has become a serious security threat to Oke-Oba Community at large and there is the need to act as fast as possible. If not quickly curbed, Akeem Adeboye may continue to expand his scope by attacking more villages in Oke-Oba under the guise of claiming land for Offa Igbo, as he seems to believe that he is too big to bow for the law.”

I’m Not A Criminal – Prince Akeem Adeboye

Reacting to the allegation, Prince Akeem Adeboye, absolved himself of any criminal conduct, saying he was nowhere involved in the attack.

Adeboye claimed that his life was under threat because the community head of Papa village, Chief Ademola Adegoke, was after his life.

Adeboye who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said: “All the allegations against me are not true; those alleging me are the real criminals. I am not a thug, nor lout. I am a law abiding citizen. I can’t recognise these people wagging war against me. We have been on this case for about two years.

“Those people have been making move to kill me since last year, but God has been protecting me.

“Last Sunday, I got intelligence report that I should not go to farm; I was told the Baale of Papa village had mobilised members of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen group and Amotekun corps to my farm at Arikuoko. I called the Fulani herder, Soliu, who was working for me at the farm to brief him, I told him to be safe.

“Around 6:19pm, I received another call; the person told me that the Baale of Papa village was the one leading the attackers to my farm and had showed them strategic area to hide. He said they would be coming the following day; Monday, in the morning.

“On Monday, I received another call, the informant told me that the assailants had gone to my farm. He said they went with food.

“On Monday night/Tuesday morning, those people came to attack my farm through Ariku route. They hid behind the fence where we rear cattle. They were many. The hunter who came out from the gate was shot on the head. The other one who was sleeping was captured and taken to Ejemu village where he was killed.

“We took the police to carry the corpse. About 106 cartridge, 148 breads, beans cakes, sachet water and pepper soup were recovered from the farm. We retrieved 23 bullets on Soliu’s head. He is now unstable, mentally as a result of that.

“The attack on my farm and the Fulani workers there has been persistent. I cannot not put figure to the number of my people who have been killed in that area. Those people have attacked all the seven different Fulani workers I have engaged on the farm.

“I am not a criminal. I have never attacked anybody in my life. I have never held a gun, and I don’t have any thug, when I am not an illiterate or warrior.
“As I am speaking with you currently, those thugs are still shooting at the Arikuoko village.

“The last time I went to that farm was about four months ago. I go around with unregistered vehicle because my life is under threat. Baale Papa village has been trailing me around, in spite of the fact that we don’t share boundary, though all of them are on my father’s land. I have 13 different judgments on the said land.
“They have dragged me to a State High Court in Iwo; but instead of waiting for the outcome of the court, they embarked on violence. I was also dragged to Zone 11 of the Nigeria Police Force. I was at the Zone 11 four different times. Those people would not come each time the police give us appointment.

“I have petitions before Osun State Governor, the AIG at Zone 11, the Area Commander and other places.
“I do not know why Iwo is laying claim to our land. We have our land, and Iwo also has its land.”

However, Chief Ademola Adegoke, the head of Papa village who Adeboye accused of leading the attack on his farm, denied the allegation, saying the Prince was being economical with the truth.

Adegoke alleged that Adeoye had been terrorizing about six villages in Iwoland since his father, late Olofa of Offa-Igbo, Oba Adeboye Salako Sinade, was upgraded to a king status.

He said: “Since the late Olofa of Offa-Igbo, Oyo State, was upgraded to a king status, his son, Akeem, has been allegedly terrorizing the people of Oke-Oba in Iwo. He moved from there to Ejemu-Oja village, where we had a traditional ruler, Yinusa Oyelayo, before his death. He was a chief from Oloponna, Ayedire local government before he was upgraded to a king. Akeem allegedly destroyed the maternity centre at that village, all the signposts having Osun State inscriptions were removed. We petitioned the police at Zone 11 in 2023 on that.

“After Ejemu-Oja, he went to Paku village. Residents of that village vote at Oloola polling unit in Iwo. From there, he went to Oloya, Eleye, Ogunajo, Arisese, and some other villages and allegedly terrorise the residents there. We have written another petition against the same Akeem Adeboye this year. Akeem is insisting that he wants to reclaim all the land owned by his father up to Odo-Oba in Iwo.

“The last attack happened on Tuesday, last week. Eight people from Paku village went to the farm with five motorcycles. They were allegedly attacked by Akeem Adeboye and his people. One person was killed in the attack.

“The deceased was a member of Tawun, who is a family member of the head of Paku village. Because of the consequence of his action, Akeem Adeboye wants to twist fact. He went to a radio station in Oyo to accuse me of leading thugs to attack him and his farm, claiming that two of his people were killed.

“I am not involved in the crisis; why mentioning my name? Is it because I am close to Oluwo? My village to the place of attack is about 40 miles. But anytime incident happens, Akeem would always accuse me of complicity.”

Speaking on the matter, the Osun State Commandant of Amotekun Corps, Brid. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi, said officers of the corps were not involved in the attack.

According to Adewinbi, residents of Paku village called the security agency to come to their rescue after they were reportedly attacked by some people from Oyo State.

He said: “The person alleging Amotekun of attacking his farm or people is telling lies. We were not involved in the attack. The case was reported to us by the people of Paku village after they were attacked by Oyo people. Amotekun went there to protect the people. I learnt a person was killed in the attack and there is a case of kidnapping at that place as well. We are working on that.”

OSUN DEFENDER had in its December 8, 2023 edition reported that bloodbath was imminent between the affected Osun and Oyo communities, warning that there would be violent clash if urgent attention was not taken to forestall it.