Regent Abducted In Ondo Community, Palace Vandalized |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

An orgy of violence took over the restive community of Alade in Idanre Local Government in Ondo state and led to the abduction of the Community’s Regent, and another woman by suspected hoodlums.

It was learnt that the incident, which happened seven days after the demise of the Traditional Ruler of  the Community, Oba Olusegun Ayodele Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Alade Idanre, was the climax of chieftaincy feud between Owa of Idanre and the deceased monarch.

Narrating the ordeal of the Royal family,  a close relation, Mr Zadok Akintoye, explained that “I remember my wife waking up this morning to remind me and discuss the need for one of us to be present in Alade for the customary seventh day prayers and ceremonies (for the late Oba)

“We concluded that one of us should go while the other stays back. I stayed back.

I was just preparing to leave the house when a distress call came through from my sister-in-law informing me of the destruction of the Palace and her current location in a swamp in the forest behind the Palace.

“She also did inform me that the Regent and several people including my wife have been abducted. I immediately made a call through to some friends and came on social media to alert the world of my wife’s abduction and proceeded to Idanre in a haste to find information about my wife’s whereabouts.

“Fortunately, a kind spirited resident of the peaceful Alade bound by the love for truth had taken custody of her. I got her back from this citizen who took the liberty of driving her back to Akure.

“She broke down in tears and was unconsolable. Indeed, the clothes on her were not hers and she had no shoes on.

“Information coming in indicates that the thugs who invaded the palace, abducted people, and proceeded to destroy vehicles, vandalized the Palace, and stole money, personal effects, including telephones, and other properties, were acting on the instruction of the Owa of Idanre kingdom, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, who incidentally is a cousin to the late king.

“I am perplexed at how a peaceful Idanre descended so quickly into an orgy of hatred, not sparring the innocent in their quest. The level of destruction is unbelievable.

“The Regent was beaten, assaulted and abducted under the instruction of the Owa of Idanre. Her injuries are deep and painful.

“At the Owa’s palace, the king after acknowledging that the Regent was his daughter by custom, made two demands; the Alade market must not be closed, and there can’t be a female Regent in Alade.

“Upon these two demands were the destruction, abduction and vandalism based. For these two reasons, a Yoruba king ordered the destruction of the palace of his late cousin, beat and traumatized his family, abducted his daughter and widow, destroyed all personal properties and desecrated the dignity of a family in mourning.

“Let me say without fear, that I will be laying a petition before the police against the Owa of Idanre for the abduction of my wife, and the destruction of our property. It is wrong and terribly unkingly for any leader to authorise and supervise what the king did today.

“Simple diplomacy would have resolved this issue instead of flouting the law to kidnap a citizen.”

However, the media office in Owa’s palace reacted and denied the allegations, which it described as “insulting”

“Nowhere, and under no guise, did Owa authorize anybody or group of people to go and kidnap anybody. Owa, who is known all over the world as a deep rooted pacifist, Justice of Peace and Paramount Ruler of Idanreland, which he had been leading for close to fifty years during which the nation accorded him the National Honour of the Order of Federal Republic (OFR) did not, and could not be party to any kidnap plan.

“The gathering at Owa’s Palace on 23rd October 2020 was meant to resolve the issue of purported intention of some people to come and perform  burial rites of the departed traditional ruler of Alade Idanre inside the Alade Regional Market which was founded by Owa on 1861 and such thing was seen as an aberration, hence the need for the parley.

“The people were also educated that only at the transition of an Owa could the Alade Regional Market be closed or temporarily relocated and no other traditional ruler in Idanreland was given such entitlement.

“In fact, Owa’s personal car was used to take those who came from Alade Idanre back.

“Owa is well recognized as a refined monarch who loves all his subjects to a fault and with special affection and love for departed Aladeokun, who was also junior to him in age.

“So Owa could not be a party to any scheme that will make things tough or hard for his immediate family or the people of Alade Idanre who he left behind.”

The Media office, however, reminded the people of Alade that the tradition is that the second in command to the Monarch is recognized as a Regent, and not the daughter of the deceased monarch.