Iyaloja of  Kajola-Ijesa in Atakunmosa West Local Council of Osun State, Iyabo Adegboku and a market cleaner, Rukayat Azeez have accused a traditional ruler, Oba Aderibigbe Omirin of Kajola-Ijesa, and Babaloja of the community, Tunde Adeniran of brutality and extortion.
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Adegboku and Azeez alleged that they were brutalised by Adeniran and the monarch’s wife on the orders of the traditional ruler.
 
According to Azeez, problems started in the market when the traditional ruler insisted that she pay N70, 000 as charges for operating in the community market.
 
She alleged that the king takes money and food items for free from his subjects as a pre-condition to granting them permission to operate in the market.
   
The cleaner, who claimed that she borrowed some money from a cooperative group to pay her dues to the monarch sometime in July, expressed shock that the Omirin insisted that she should pay the annual dues for the second time in the year.
 
She said that she resisted the pressure by the Babaloja to pay the annual dues for the second time as demanded by the king because it would amount to cheating.
 
As a result of this, she claimed that the Babaloja allegedly beat her up and tore her clothes at the marketplace.
   
“On October 18, Tunde Adeniran came to where I was sweeping and dragged the broom with me. He beat me and tore my clothes. It was Baba Ilori and some other men that rescued me. Before I got to the Kajola Police Station with my torn clothes, he was already there. I later went to the hospital to treat myself because I hit my chest on the ground.
 
“While I was receiving treatment at the hospital, the police from the Ayeso Police Station, Ilesa., came to arrest me. They put me in their custody and released me two days after the intervention of human rights activist, Citizen Lola Wey.
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“This is not the first time that the Omirin would be extorting me. Five years ago, he collected N700, 000 daily contributions from one Iya Gbojunola, wife of the secretary at the palace. Out of N700, 000, mine is N150, 000.”
 
Narrating her own ordeal, Adegboku accused Babaloja of assaulting her at about 8:00a.m. on October 20, right in front of the public.
 
She said that she sustained injuries on her hand in the process, leading to her being hospitalised at Kajola-Ijesa Health Centre.
   
“Omirin subjected me to suffering. We have not been selling well at the market because of incessant police arrest and court cases. He appointed a new Iyaloja and I kicked against it. So, he got me arrested by the police.
 
“Last week Thursday, my yam was stolen in the market and it was reported to me.”
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While I was trying to sort out the matter, Babaloja came and started accusing me of disrespecting the Omirin.   “He slapped me and held onto my clothes. I have not been feeling fine since then, after I was treated at the health centre. We need peace in Kajola-Ijesa and we want the stakeholders to intervene,” she said.
   
But, the Omirin , who said he had petitioned the police, accused the market cleaner of threatening him. The monarch claimed that the woman had sworn that he (Omirin) would not live to see the month of November.
 
It was gathered that  it was in response to the petition that a team of security operatives from Ayeso Police Station stormed the hospital where Rukayat was receiving treatment to arrest her. She was later released to her daughter after Wey’s intervention.
 
Also, Babaloja  has denied the allegation that he assaulted the women, saying that they were liars and troublemakers in the community.
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Adeniran said: “I didn’t touch any of them. The day Rukayat abused me, I didn’t even touch her.   
   
“She denied at the police station that she abused me and that it was another person that she was referring to. She used to curse me and Omirin each time she saw our children.
 
“Rukayat told the police that I beat her up and tore her clothes. If you ask other residents, they would confirm to you that she is a troublemaker.
 
“She misbehaved with the Kabiyesi (the Omirin). She bought palm oil at the marketplace using Kabiyesi’s name. That was why the Kabiyesi banned her from the palace.“
 
However, Rukayat, in an interview, denied the allegation, saying that the king sent his son to collect palm oil from the traders.
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