47 Youths Arrested, 8 policcemen Hospitalised In Ondo Crisis

Eight policemen deployed to quell the uprising
that erupted in Ile Oluji area of Ondo State over
the desperate plan by some youths to eject the
traditional ruler, Oba Suulade Adedugbe from
the palace who were critically wounded have
been referred to the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching
Hospital in Ile Ife for medical attention.
The policemen were alleged to have been shot by
the violent youths who invaded the Oba's palace.
Police have arrested 47 persons in connection
with the crisis, while the Divisional Police
Officer, DPO, of Ile Oluji is also said to be
hospitalised following the injury he sustained
while trying to quell the crisis.
This is coming as the state government
yesterday set up a judicial commission of
enquiry to probe the violence that led to the
death of three persons.
According to the Secretary to the State
Government, SSG, Dr. Rotimi Adelola, the
Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to look into
the recent disturbances and crises in Ile Oluji/
Oke Igbo Local Government of Ondo State,
especially the disturbance of May 27 and 28,
2013 and/or any similar disturbance in Ile Oluji.
The commission has Justice Nelson Adeyanju as
Chairman, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, Chief
Olugbenga Ale as members and Mr. Fredrick
Oye as Secretary
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to
"recommend appropriate sanction, take stock of
the losses or damages occasioned during the
crises, make appropriate recommendations to
government on the subject of the terms of
references or any other matter connected with
the crises."
The Commission of Inquiry which has 14 days to
submit its findings is to be inaugurated today, at
the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor's
Office.
Also, the governor, Dr Mimiko yesterday, at a
Democracy Day lecture said the crisis in Ile Oluji
has some undertone and has nothing to do with
the citing of a Federal institution in the area.
He confirmed that a policeman who was shot by
the youths was operated upon at OAUTH in Ile
Ife, yesterday.
Meantime, soldiers from the 323 Artillery
Regiment in the state have been deployed to the
troubled town to compliment the efforts of the
policemen.
Also, the palace of the Oba was said to have been
vandalised by the irate youths.
There was partial curfew in the town yesterday
as both commercial and social activities were
completely paralysed following the violence in
the town.
Police sources said that the youths picked up
have started fingering their sponsors and are
being detained at the state SIIB in Akure.
Reports said that the Oba has returned to the
palace and he is under police protective custody.
The Ondo State Government in a statement on
the crisis signed by the Chief Press Secretary to
the governor, Eni Akinsola, said there was no
truth about a Polytechnic in Ile Oluji as
rumoured by some people in the community, a
rumour that resulted into a violent protest in the
week.
Akinsola said: "The state is not contemplating a
new polytechnic now as it is busy repositioning
its two universities in Okitipupa and Akungba
and the polytechnic in Owo.
"We have also found out that the federal
government has also not decided on citing any
higher institution in the state now. We are
therefore shocked to hear that the crisis is linked
to a rumoured location of a polytechnic to and
away from the town."