Kunle Adelabu
Oba Olukayode David Raji Balogun, the Eweye of Isiu, has alleged that hoodlums that attacked his palace on Friday, September 4, 2020, came to either kidnap or kill him.
The royal father, who was presented with Staff of Office and Certificate of Recognition by the Lagos State Government about two weeks ago, spoke with THE IMPACT at his palace on Sunday (yesterday) on the deadly attack by some landgrabbers suspected to be working for some antagonists of the new Oba.
Oba Balogun, THE IMPACT gathered narrowly escaped being killed by the hoodlums that stormed his palace on the second day of the attack on Isiwu community.
Many of the residents were allegedly shot at by the invaders and properties damaged during the attack on isiwu.
He pointed accusing fingers at one Yinusa Jimoh and Idris Jimoh among others as those responsible for the two days attack on his community and palace, during which many properties were allegedly destroyed while many people sustained gunshots.
Isiwu town, which hosts the Secretariat of the Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area, was brought under siege for two days by the suspected Ajagungbales (landgrabbers) .
In view of the illicit activities of the landgrabbers, particularly the attack on the palace which left many people with gun wounds and also instilled fears in the residents of the community, Oba Balogun called on the State government to establish a Police Station in Isiwu to address the insecurity in the town.
THE IMPACT gathered that the disturbance in the community since the installation of Oba Balogun has prevented the monarch from completing the necessary rites which are part of his coronation as required by the tradition.
Narrating how the attack began, the Eweye of lsiwu stated that it all started on Thursday, September 3, when Yinusa Jimoh and others attacked some boys that he sent to erect his installation banners at the second entrance into the community located along Ikorodu-Epe Expressway.
“It was one of the banners that were made and presented to me by different groups and associations in honour of the presentation of Staff of Office and Certificate of Recognition to me by the Lagos State Government on Monday, 24, August, 2020, that those boys went to erect at the junction of the Itoikin – Epe Expressway which is near my community”, Oba Balogun said.
“They were attacked while doing that by some ‘Ajagungbales’, namely Yinusa Jimoh and Idris Jimoh and others. They shot at them and inflicted serious injuries on them to prevent them from erecting the banner. That was how the problem started.
“I was told that they were querying them on my ascension to the throne of Eweye and they returned to report the matter to me and those injured were taken to the General Hospital in Agbowa”.
The traditional ruler also said that a more deadly team of ‘Ajagungbales’ returned the second day to attack his palace and shot many residents.
“On the second day, to my surprise, another set of ‘Ajagungbales’ invaded my town with guns and other dangerous objects. They attacked my father’s house that is presently serving as the palace and vandalized my jeep that I bought recently”, he said.
“They shot at many residents and wounded them badly. They wanted to kidnap me or kill me if kidnapping is not possible, but God Almighty intervened for me. All the hunters in our community and Onyabo Vigilance personnel intervened to stall their invasion”, he alleged.
“They shot for almost two hours. If you go round the palace, you will see bullet holes. Many residents in the community suffered bullet wounds.They are about 50 in number. They are receiving treatment as we speak. We have been keeping vigil since that day.
The royal father raised suspicion about the role of the Imota DPO, Mr Omololu Oni, and his men in the activities of the ‘Ajagungbales’ that invaded his town.
He said alleged the DPO rather than bringing the culprits to book, persuaded him for settlement with them.
“He (DPO) came in the evening of the day that the whole issue started (Thursday) and he was the one that followed the boy was attacked to the hospital and late in the night on that same day, he called to tell me that he and his men were on patrol and I asked him to see me.
“The DPO came after almost two hours after I called him and when he finally arrived, he was telling me something else. He told me that I should agree to settle with the suspects but I insisted that he must arrest those suspects first before that”, Oba Balogun said while expressing his disappointment over the statement of the DPO.
“Those that attacked my people came in through the point that policemen from Imota said that they were stationed, yet they could not apprehend them”, he said.
“I was also aware that he (DPO) escorted the leader of the suspects (Yinusa) to his home in Isiwu on Friday night and when I called him to get his response, he denied it”.
While stating that the community is working towards writing petition to the government and other necessary quarters on the activities of the hoodlums, the royal father called for the establishment of a Police Station in Isiwu for improved security.
“We are making necessary preparations to inform the state government and other relevant quarters about the invasion. We are going to petition the government on the matter because I want the government to assist me with security so as to protect the lives and properties of my people.
“Activities of these hoodlums are preventing residents from going about their daily activities and engagements. You will not see anyone on the street in the community because of fear of another attack. Many of our residents have already relocated from the community ”, he said.
“We need the state government to give us a Police Station in Isiwu. We already have a piece of land reserve for the purpose and we need their intervention quickly in this regard. We need a police formation here because the one at Imota is far from Isiwu”, Oba Balogun solicited.
Oba Balogun, who also alleged that Yinusa and others are being sponsored by Alhaji Owoeye and Soro to dispossess families in Isiwu of their properties, further alleged that the attackers are being backed by some Police Officers in perpetrating criminal acts in the community.
“They actually wanted to kidnap or kill me and I am suspecting Yinusa Jimoh and Idris Jimoh and many others”, he further alleged.
“I really do not know what they wanted from me. He did not apply for the royal position. He is a notorious land grabber. He has sold off many lands in the community and has been enmeshed in crisis with several families on whose lands he stationed Ajagungbales across the community.
“They said that it was Oba Shotobi that installed me but I don’t know where they got that information from. I was presented with the Staff of Office by the Lagos State Government and by that, I became the monarch of this community (Isiwu)” , Oba Balogun said.
“There are many petitions against him but he always makes use of some policemen. His godfathers are Alhaji Owoeye and Soro”, Kabiyesi alleged.
Meanwhile, the duo of Yinusa Jimoh and Ibrahim popularly called ‘Asela’, believed to have perpetrated the attack, denied all the allegations against them in a phone chat with THE THE IMPACT. They claimed that they are the ones that were attacked by those accusing them.
In his own defence, Yinusa said that he is only in possession of lands he acquired through the process of law and denied that he neither attacked anybody nor invaded Isiwu.
Also, Mr Ibrahim, whom we gathered is Yinusa’s elder brother, also denied all the allegations and also alleged that they are the victims of the said attack.
“All that you were told are pure lies. They are the one that attacked us on Thursday evening on our way back from a meeting with our lawyer”, he counter alleged.
He said that five of them had to abandon their vehicle when they were attacked, while also stating that Yinusa’s shopping complex was also attacked.
