The President of Ocean Economy, Olu Okeowo, has strongly condemned the forceful encroachment of land by the Ondo State indigenes along the border towns in Irokun, a community between Ondo and Ogun States, located in Ogun Waterside Local Government.
He described the recent encroachment as a blatant violation of Ogun State’s territorial integrity and called on the Ogun State Government to take immediate action to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the affected areas.
“There is impending doom if we fail to curb the excessive aggression and lawlessness being perpetrated by the Ondo State indigenes,” he warned.
He noted that Ondo State must caution it’s indigenes living along the border with Irokun in Ogun Waterside Local Government to prevent any breakdown of law and order, which could lead to chaos.
“The incessant attacks on Irokun, under the guise of a boundary dispute between the Ondo and Ogun State Governments, are barbaric and unacceptable. Ondo State indigenes believes Irokun Kingdom was mistakenly annexed to Ogun State and is attempting to install an Oba from Ondo State, despite the fact that the Ogun State Government has constitutionally recognized and crowned the rightful Oba.
“Furthermore, the Ondo State Government indigenes along the border towns of Irokun are planning to establish a primary school and health center in Irokun Kingdom—despite the presence of existing facilities provided by Ogun State—in a deliberate attempt to claim the land.
“Given the rich deposits of mineral resources and the strategic importance of Irokun to Ogun Waterside Local Government and Ogun State as a whole, it is imperative for all critical stakeholders to take decisive action to stop these continuous attacks and human rights violations by Ondo State indigenes,”Okeowo stated.
He pointed out that Irokun’s geographical isolation makes it difficult for the community to receive timely police intervention, noting that the community has already allocated land and a building for a police post, but the Police Authority requires its reconstruction into a modern structure before deployment, calling on Ogun Waterside Local Government to assist in fulfilling this requirement so that the police post can become functional immediately.
Olu Okeowo further said that the Irokun kingdom lacks a motorable road, unlike other communities in Ogun State, adding that the construction of a road is urgently needed to connect Irokun to neighbouring towns and improve security of lives and properties.
He stated: “Moving forward, the Local and State Governments must work together to ensure adequate security, safeguard lives and properties, and defend the community against external aggression. The protection of lives and properties must remain a top priority.”
Cc:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Ogun State Government
Senator Gbenga Daniel
MHR Joseph Folorunsho Adegbesan
National Security Adviser (NSA)
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun
Ogun Waterside Local Government
National Boundary Commission
Border Security Agencies
Department of State Services (DSS)
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Nigeria Police Force.
