There is tension in an Ekiti state border community, Eda Oniyo, the headquarters of the Ilejemeje Council area of Ekiti following the attack on the council secretariat and some residents, by armed hoodlums suspected to have come from a neighbouring town in Kwara.
The traditional ruler of Eda Oniyo, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, told our correspondent that the hoodlums also attacked some residents on their farms, adding that one of the injured farmers is receiving medical attention at the hospital.
“People from Obbo-Ayegunle, a Kwara state community, have been farming on our land, but the government of Ekiti state wants to use the land for youths and deployed equipment there preparatory to beginning work. That was what provoked them to attack us.
“They came on bikes. I was even at my farm at that time, they went to vandalise our (Ilejemeje) local government Secretariat and then attacked some of our people who were already on their farms. A car parked at the roadside was vandalised, and three motorbikes were set ablaze. One of the farmers beaten has been hospitalised”, the monarch said.
The traditional ruler, who said tension was already brewing up in the community, said that the state government, following the incident had appealed for calm and advised residents against reprisal attack.
Awolola said, “The government has sent soldiers and policemen to the community. They pleaded with our people not to retaliate. Soldiers and policemen are still at the Council Secretariat now. I learned Amotekun would join in the security endeavour.”
The Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Mr Alaba Dada, who expressed shock over the incident, added that security agents had been mobilised to the town to douse the tension.
Dada said there was a need for the Ekiti and Kwara governments to meet and settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationships.
This incident is one of many hoodlums attacks on Ekiti communities.
Recall that in August 2023, no fewer than four persons, including a businessman, Chief Bode Olayinka, were injured and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed at Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti state, when a group of hoodlums unleashed violence on some All Progressives Congress chieftains in the area.
Sources alleged that the attack was connected with the local government elections billed to be held in December across the local government areas and local council development areas in the state.