Esa-Oke community cry out, say Sunday Igboho dey threaten dem over land

Esa-Oke community for Osun State don call on Governor Ademola Adeleke and security agencies to intervene for land dispute wey involve the town and Ido Aiyegunle settlement. The group, Esa-Oke Joint Action Working Committee, accuse Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, wey dem call Sunday Igboho, of threatening and intimidating residents over the land.

For statement on Sunday, the committee say recent videos and public comments from Sunday Igboho dey inflammatory and fit disrupt peace for the area. The statement, wey Chairman of Esa-Oke Central Union Otunba Yinusa Bamigboye and Chairman of Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative Prince Wumi Adeniyi sign, allege say the dispute start again after Osun State Government approve an Oba for a farm settlement wey dey inside Esa-Oke territory.

The group say the matter dey before court and also under review by an administrative panel wey state government set up. The committee allege say some people dey try to use self-help despite the pending legal process. They urge Governor Adeleke, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to take urgent steps to prevent breakdown of law and order.

The committee condemn the hiring of non-state actor like Sunday Igboho, calling am a one-man tribunal wey dey pass judgment and pronounce penalties. Dem say, “A man who cannot intervene when children and teachers dey kidnapped for im own state, no get moral standing to march into Osun State and wage war for another community.” The group call on state government to intervene without delay, saying the provocation for Esa-Oke demands urgent and decisive response.

The committee also appeal to traditional rulers for Ijeshaland not to allow dem use their institutions to escalate crisis. While calling on residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, the group say dem get confidence for rule of law and ability of authorities to resolve the matter. Dem deny allegations wey dey circulate for social media about ownership of the disputed land, insisting say the claims against the community be false and misleading.

In related development, the Esa-Oke Joint Action Working Committee petition Osun Government and security agencies over Sunday Igboho alleged false land ownership claims and threatened aggression. The committee rebut claims for recent videos, public statements, and photographs wey Igboho and Timileyin Ajayi circulate. Dem say the boundary issue involving Ido Aiyegunle, wey dey between Osun and Ekiti states, don be subject of litigation and administrative inquiry for long time.

The committee condemn the use of non-state actors and Boko Haram-style intimidation, calling am reckless and contemptuous of rule of law. Dem question why Timileyin Ajayi go engage Sunday Igboho, a man from Oyo State, to intimidate Esa-Oke people. The group say the actions be not of people with legitimate grievances, but of land-grabbers wey dey operate with impunity, emboldened by desperation and shielded by powerful but unnamed interests.

The committee express pain and indignation at the timing of the actions, wey happen during period of mourning for Esa-Oke departed monarch. Dem describe the act as declaration of war against a peaceful community. The group also criticise the warm reception wey some traditional rulers give to Igboho and Ajayi, appealing to traditional rulers not to allow their offices be weaponised by desperate individuals.

The committee serve notice on Timileyin Ajayi to withdraw completely from Esa-Oke farmland until court determine ownership. Dem dismiss social media narrative as attack on Esa-Oke and integrity of Osun State Government. Dem urge public to disregard the claims and caution those behind disinformation to desist. The group appeal to residents to remain calm and continue lawful activities, expressing confidence in rule of law and government willingness to protect citizens and deliver justice.