Traditional Rulers Petition Governor, Police, DSS Over Rising Kidnapping, Murder
The traditional rulers, who rose from their meeting held on Saturday, 15th February, 2025 on the ongoing crisis in Ugboland, said many people had fled the community hibernating in neighbouring communities for their safety.
The Council of Chiefs and Baales in Ugboland has sent “Save Our Souls” letters to the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo State Director of State Services, and other security agencies in the state to address the alarming insecurity and killings in the community.
The traditional chiefs asked the authorities to look into the case of murder of one Bababo Lowo, and the bodily harm inflicted on the Baale of Ugboland community, Chief Adebowale Ebiwanno, by rampaging gangsters who invaded the community recently.
The traditional rulers, who rose from their meeting held on Saturday, 15th February, 2025 on the ongoing crisis in Ugboland, said many people had fled the community hibernating in neighbouring communities for their safety.
The communique made available to SaharaReporters on Friday, by the concerned monarchs was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the council of Baales, Chief Ibukunola Owowa and Chief Idowu Agbejoye respectively.
In the communique, the monarchs alleged that the crisis from their investigations were perpetuated by some culprits.
They listed the people they suspected as; “Henry Ogunfeyimi, Ododoyuge Egbagbemi, Aruwayo Joseph, Ogunsemore Michai, Ibikunle Yomi, Leke Ogunfeyimi, Ofoesuwa Tunde, Woye Gentle, Ajimuda Stephen, Ikuomola Daisi, Adesuyi Adeyemi and others at large.”
The communique read partly, “These violent attacks by the gangsters that murdered Mr. Bababo Lowo took place on Thursday, 13th February, 2025 with attempted murder on Chief Adebowale Ebiwano, the Baale of Ugbonla and other persons who were badly injured and bruised with dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, matchets, knives, charms, by these gangsters in Ugbonla community.
“We hereby attach pictures, video recordings and other evidences to this communique including human witnesses who abound and are here present and available to give their testimony freely and willingly.
“After our broad inquiries, investigations and findings, we are strongly united in our stand that these murderous acts which led to death, wanton destruction of lives and properties, kidnapping and physical assault by these gangsters are unacceptable to our communities as a whole and the Council of Chiefs and Baales in Ugboland strongly condemn these crimes in totality.
“Ugbonla is a community with the Baale as the head and leader of the community, under the custom and tradition of Ugboland, and it is an aberration for a group of people, regardless of their claims of connections in high governmental places to attack the Baale and several innocent people leading to death, kidnappings, injuries and unfathomable destruction of properties.
“After exhaustive deliberation at the meeting of the Council of Chiefs and Baales in Ugbonla, the following demands are hereby made:
“That in line with the Governor of Ondo State’s quest for peace and stability in Ondo State and in every community in the state, we are asking that the government of Ondo State should investigate the reported incidents and arrest the perpetrators and sponsors of this murderous acts and bring in order to ensure that justice is served.
“We know that Mr. Governor and the government of Ondo State adhere strictly to the rule of law and we know justice will be served, by investigating the attackers of Baale of Ugbonla, the killers of Mr. Bababo Lowo, the kidnapers of persons still missing and the gangsters that attempted murder on other persons that were badly injured with dangerous weapons in Ugbonla community.
“We call on the Commissioner of Police; the State Director, Department of State Service, Ondo State and other security agencies to wade into this situation and save the lives of innocent people and residents in Ugbonla community.
“That the Ondo State government should arrest the ring leaders of the killer squad that murdered Mr. Bababo Lowo and those who attacked the Baale of Ugbonla community and inflicted bodily injuries on many in the community.
“That the peace and quietness which was enjoyed in Ugboland and Ilaje communities which is the constituency of the Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, cannot be jeopardised by lawless individuals and groups who have no value for human life. Ilaje want peace, Ugboland want peace, and our quest for peace cannot be compromised. No community in Ugboland will be allowed by the Council of Chiefs and Baales in Ugbonla to become a slaughter ground, where human beings will be gruesomely murdered by any group of individuals.
“This communique is a clarion call for the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security and other relevant and associated security agencies to come to our rescue and save our souls.
“Movement on land and the waterways en route Ugbonla have been stopped due to fear of another series of attacks by these killers and gangsters.
“We hope these murderers will be brought to book immediate by the government.”
