26TH OCTOBER, 2020
This Press Release became necessary to:
The Akire in Council was in the course of its usual Monday meeting at 9am when suddenly some hoodlums, with canes, cutlasses and guns in hands, forced their way into the Palace gate and then into the Hall. They were engaged by the Chiefs and it was learnt in the process that they were sent by Mr. TajuAkintula a contestant to the throne of Akire, which case is still in the appeal court. All appeals to them to maintain peace fell on deaf ears as they started beating the Chiefs and in the process inflicted bodily harms on many and His Royal Majesty, Oba Olatunde Falabi himself was roughly handled before he was rescued by his personal aides.
It should be put on record that the hoodlums were NOT Youths of Ikire as claimed by some. Preliminary investigations revealed that they were hired thugs from outside Ikire and were brought into Ikire by buses through Odeyinka a night prior to the incident (that is, Sunday, 25th October), and some local thugs were sighted among them on Monday. Ikire Youths arepeace loving, honourable and of noble character and would not be downgraded to be used by anyone for selfish interest, particularly, not against their own chosen King, HRM Oba Olatunde Falabi, and their fathers who make up the Chiefs in Akire in Council.
Many elders of Ikire who got wind of the situation came around to appeal to the hoodlums without success. Amidst such were the Local Government Chairmen, the DPO and his officers. They were equally manhandled and had to run for their lives at some points. The hoodlums continued to foment trouble at Oja-Ale, in front of the Palace by beating and assaulting passers-by and anyone who wants to enter or leave the Palace as they await the appropriate time to carry out their main mandatewhatever that is. It should be remembered that this was the same strategy used the last time the palace was burnt down and we have not yet totally rebuilt it till now.
It was later learnt that the Army team on Patrol due to the already existing security situation in Osun State was attacked at Oke-Ola, Ikire, dispossessed of their guns, manhandled and their vehicle destroyed.
With the continuous aggravation of the crisis and amidst thechaos, Kabiyesi and his immediate family had to be whisked away from the Palace by his aides, and of course since that was the intention of the sponsors, the vehicles were destroyed in the process but he was successfully taken to a safe haven. Pictures and videos are herewith attached. Subsequently, the dispatch of reinforcements from Ede to recover the guns snatched from the army and the concerted efforts of noble elders of our townhelped in restoring relative peace to our dear town. However, through it all, many were inflicted with various degrees of injuries, properties were damaged and lives were lost.
To forestall future occurrence of such unfortunate situation, we,the Akire in Council and other noble sons and daughters of Ikire land, call for further investigations of this matter by appropriate government institutions and demand that everyone found culpable for the sponsoring of the hoodlums who caused the disturbance which led to the loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties should be brought to face the musicwith justice given to the departed souls.
We commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives and properties due to this unfortunate incidence. Also, weappeal to all members of the community to peacefully go about their lawful daily activities as government authorities continue to maintain peace, and we assure you that this matter will be followed up to a logical conclusion. May God be with us all.
Gbogbo eniti o nfe Ikire yio se rere.
Signed
PRESSS SECRETARY,
AKIRE IN COUNCIL.
