All the houses, shops, worship centres, relaxation joints, playing ground and the Primary school in the agrarian community have been under lock and key while all forms of activities have come to a halt.
Though it was reported that some of those who fled in the wake of the assassination, last Monday, had started to return, when The Guardian visited last Wednesday, the community was empty, as residents, including the aged, were still in neighbouring communities.
Despite reports that heavy security was in place to forestall any form of reprisal, no security personnel was seen when The Guardian visited. In fact, only one old woman was seen as this reporter walked around the community. An air of trouble loomed large even as domestic animals had suddenly disappeared in major areas of the community.
It was gathered that journalists on assignment to the community have been careful to avoid attacks.
Even the Ajegunle-Asa Yobo-Agodo road, which is always a beehive of activities, courtesy of commercial motorcycles, was deserted this Wednesday. The only primary school located in the community, Agodo Primary School did not open as teachers stayed away from classes.
According to sources, contrary to reports that the incident was prompted by the conflict between Owu and Ake people over kingship tussle in the village, the crisis, it was learnt, started about nine years ago, when hoodlums allegedly sponsored by a camp loyal to the deceased monarch, besieged the community to grab land.
The deceased was alleged to have branded himself a monarch and was involved in cases of land disputes with Agodo people, which had caused bad blood between him and community members.
It was gathered that on several occasions, thugs were engaged to invade houses, where they raped, maimed, dispossessed and even killed their victims.
An indigene of the community, who resides in Ifo area, told The Guardian on the phone that her father was killed a few years ago due to the crisis.
According to the lady, her father was macheted to death for allegedly daring to confront the deceased, noting that the case is still in court.
“Nobody installed anybody as a monarch, we only have Baale, but some were just parading themselves without the support of the community. Since they invaded the community about 15 years ago, the once peaceful community has been experiencing turmoil, forcing a number of people to leave the community”, she said.
It was learnt that on a fateful day, residents – the young, aged and even pupils who were in school when the monarch was killed, fled the community through different routes.
The source revealed that her mother was rescued through the bush before a motorcycle came to their rescue.
“On that Monday, when the killings took place, we learnt they came into the community with three buses loaded with hoodlums and their friends to foment trouble as usual, while the deceased came in his personal car. Nobody could explain what really transpired between him and the guys in the community that led to his death.”
A commercial motorcycle rider, who gave his name simply as Kehinde, said the deceased was yet to be crowned a monarch and had no house or palace in the village but resided in Ilaro. He added that it was the deceased’s mother that is a native of Agodo.
He noted that since the invasion of the community a few years back, the community had been torn apart, as the peace once enjoyed was cut short. Instead, killer-gangs had been terrorising the community from time to time.
“They have succeeded in taking over our land in the community, so, the fear was about what would happen if the deceased were crowned? On several occasions, boys broke into people’s houses to rob people, terrorise the entire community and deal with the Baale, beaten him to pulp and the law enforcement agents were helpless on several reports lodged at the police station.”
The Guardian observed that remnant of the burnt Sienna car, which the deceased allegedly rode into town and discovered nothing could have been salvaged. It was gathered that the Police took away the deceased personal belongings and charred remains.
In his reaction, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has vowed to visit the full weight of the law on the suspected killers of the traditional ruler.
Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, directed security agencies to immediately fish out the killers.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, told The Guardian that the Command had commenced investigation to arrest the culprit, noting that nobody has been arrested so far.
