The Esa-Oke community, under the aegis of the Esa-Oke Joint Action Working Committee, has called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and security agencies to intervene in an ongoing land dispute involving indigenes of the town and the Ido Aiyegunle settlement.

The group was reacting to a trending video in which Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, was allegedly seen threatening and intimidating residents of the community over the disputed land.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Esa-Oke Joint Action Working Committee described the videos and public comments linked to Igboho as inflammatory and capable of disrupting peace in the area.

The statement was jointly signed by the Chairman of Esa-Oke Central Union, Otunba Yinusa Bamigboye, and Chairman of Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative, Prince Wumi Adeniyi.

The committeee alleged that the dispute was reignited following the approval of an Oba by the Osun State Government over a farm settlement said to be within Esa-Oke territory.

According to the group, the matter is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction and is also being examined by an administrative panel constituted by the state government.

The committee further alleged that some individuals were attempting to resort to self-help despite the pending legal process.

The organisation also criticised the reported visit of Igboho to the disputed area alongside one Timileyin Ajayi, describing the development as provocative.

The Esa-Oke people therefore called on Governor Adeleke, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies to take urgent steps to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“The act of hiring a non-state actor such as Sunday Igboho, and deploying him as a one-man tribunal with the authority, apparently, to pass judgment and pronounce penalties, is wholly condemnable.

“A man who cannot intervene when children and teachers are kidnapped in his own state has no moral standing to march into Osun State and wage war in another community. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms.

“We call on the Osun State Government to intervene without further delay. The provocation being directed at our peaceful people in Esa-Oke demands an urgent and decisive response from the appropriate authorities. We are acutely aware that certain elements may seek to exploit this crisis for political purposes.

“It also appealed to traditional rulers in Ijeshaland not to allow their institutions to be used in ways that could escalate the crisis,” the statement said.

While calling on residents of Esa-Oke to remain peaceful and law-abiding, the committee said it had confidence in the rule of law and the ability of relevant authorities to resolve the dispute.

The community also denied allegations circulating on social media regarding ownership of the disputed land, insisting that the claims against it were false and misleading. (AriseNews TV)

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