Gov Adeleke orders manhunt for attackers of Osun monarch

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed security agencies in the state to track down those responsible for the attack on the Ajeniju of Hallelujah, Oba Jelil Olaiya, and the burning of his palace.

Western Post gathered that youths from the Ido-Osun area of the state attacked the monarch after he installed an Imam and conducted Jummat prayers on their land.The monarch was reportedly beaten and later rushed to a hospital in Osogbo, the state capital.

It was further gathered that the monarch had, last week, turbaned one Ahmad Tijjani as Chief Imam of the Hallelujah community.

However, while hosting people at his palace for Jummat prayers, youths allegedly from Ido-Osun stormed the palace, disrupted the gathering, and claimed the monarch had no right to install a Chief Imam in the community.

The governor condemned the act of taking the law into one’s hands and directed the Commissioner of Police to secure the troubled areas and arrest the ringleaders of the violence.

In a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke revealed he had spoken with the Ajeniju of Hallelujah, who is currently recuperating from the attack. He also instructed the Olojudo of Ido-Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde Ishola, to call the rampaging youths to order while law enforcement intervenes.

According to Governor Adeleke, resorting to violence to resolve communal disputes is unacceptable, and anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law.

He stated, “Aside from law enforcement, I have further directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Dosu Babatunde, to commence immediate peace-building and conflict de-escalation in collaboration with security agencies.

“Any community with grievances is free to approach relevant government agencies for conflict resolution. We will not tolerate violence under any guise,” the governor warned.