Ondo Boundary Clash: One Dead, Student Missing, NANS, Reps Member Sue For Peace

By Ayodele Oni

Protesters who are mainly students of higher institutions of learning took to the streets of Ode Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo state, on Monday, to demand for the whereabout  of one Gideon Akindoye.

Akindoye, who was last seen on Monday June 11, 2024 disappeared after he left for his father’s farm located between Igbobini and Ode Irele Communities.

The two communities are currently at war over boundary disputes with one life already lost.

Gideon who returned from school to meet his parents and later went to the farm with his motorcycle to harvest cassava, but yet to return home since then, raising suspicion that he must have been kidnapped on the farm.

During the protest, the students under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) called on the state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the security agencies in  the state to intervene and find the missing student.

Singing different solidarity songs, the students carried placards with various inscriptions such as  ‘Bring back Gideon dead or alive’, ‘Mr Governor, we need UR Help,’ ‘ Akindoyo Gideon missing since 11th June 2024, Where is him?’, ‘Gideon where are you,’ among others.

Speaking during the protest,  the Senate President of NANS, Henry Olukunomo, who believed the missing student was kidnapped, called on his abductors to release him dead or alive .

Olukunomo confirmed that the missing student was a bonafide 300-level student of Computer Engineering in Al-Hilmah University in Kwara State

“We are calling on those who kidnap comrade Gideon to release him to us dead or alive. If he is dead, they should release his body to us to give him befitting burial but if he is alive they should release him to relieve his parents from unnecessary trauma.

“We have gathered here to solidarize with the people of Irele and Igbobini, and we are using this opportunity to call on the governor to end the lingering crisis between there two communities.”

The mother of the missing student, Mrs Janet Akindoyo said the boy arrived Irele on  Sunday, June 10,  went to the farm to harvest the following day but he had not returned.

“He has not returned, search party saw his motorcycle where he parked it but we haven’t seen him . I’m appealing to the security and the people to help find him.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami confirmed the missing, of the students incident but said the men of the command are in the forest to search for him.

“Our men are working in the forest in search of the person and investigation into the matter had begun.”

Meanwhile, A member of House of Representatives representing Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo state, Donald Ojogo has described as unfortunate the inter-communal clash between Igbobini and Irele communities, calling on the leaders to broker a round table talks for restoration of peace in the area.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Akure on Monday, the lawmaker said it is unfortunate that the lingering clash, which had claimed lives could have been averted if leaders tow the path of peace.

Ojogo said, “The inter-communal clash between Igbobini and Irele communities that has resulted in the destruction of properties, unfortunate loss of lives and a missing 30 year old university undergraduate, Gideon is a tragedy that should never have occured.

“This avoidable dispute, rooted in unresolved land issue, has lingered for too long and I am particularly pained that it was allowed to escalate this point.

“As the representative of Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, I urge all traditional leaders, religious leaders and relevant stakeholders of both communities to come to a table and proffer urgent solutions that will bring an end to this crisis.

“We must work together to address the underlying issues that have led to this conflict to restore peace and harmony to our communities.

“These communities have coexisted and intermarried. It is, therefore, important that this relationship is sustained for mutual benefits and not jeopardized on the account of a difference that can be resolved.

“I urge both communities to embrace dialogue as the best means of resolving the dispute.”