Hoodlums have invaded the Federal Government Housing estate and destroyed buildings and property worth millions of naira in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The thugs invaded the housing scheme located at Alagbaka Government Reservation Area (GRA), in the state capital, beat and injured workers on the site while others escaped with injuries.
The Trumpet gathered that the armed thugs who overran the ongoing Federal Government Housing Scheme around 9 am, fired several gunshots and demolished the ongoing construction work. It was also gathered that the thugs destroyed plumbing pipes while over five Storex tanks were broken.
Speaking to journalists, the Managing Director of the company handling the project, Medaville Building & Construction Co. Ltd, Otunba Ademola Akin-Benson, accused the Deji of Akure and Chairman Ondo State Council of Oba, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, as the sponsor of the attack.
Akin-Benson claimed that the monarch has been bringing some unlawful moves to take the land from the company and stop the Federal Government project, adding that Oba Aladetoyinbo has been sending thugs to disrupt the ongoing work on site.
He complained that over N50m had been lost to the regular attacks by the sponsored thugs, adding that periodically the thugs had dropped charms on the site, and placed fetish objects on the project to scare him and the labourers. Akin-Benson asserted that where the Deji of Akure claimed as a community land was far away and not the area where the construction work was ongoing in line with existing court judgment.
He alleged that Deji has on several times beaten people working on the site, noting he sent his thugs to kidnap some workers two weeks ago. He, however, said the matter was reported to the police and appropriate authorities.
“They came here on the 18th of this month with two bikes, beat, harass the workers; destroyed many building materials.”
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The Managing Director explained that the land was owned by the Federal Government but was handed over to Medaville Building & Construction Co. Ltd to develop. Otunba Ademola noted that the matter was already in court and his lawyers have filed Section 49 against him which he always ran away. He has been served but trying to dodge it; it is always like this. We will not take any law into our hands. We will continue to pursue the case to the highest level.”
Akin-Benson revealed that two different trials have been established to check the monarch’s extras, saying he would not allow him to proceed to disrupt the Federal Government project. While describing the thug’s actions as a disturbance of the peace of the community, he said they are doing the project to ease housing problems in Ondo State, adding that the Federal Government is aware of the harassment and destruction.
When contacted, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi through his Chief Press Secretary, Michael Adeyeye debunked the claim and described it as untrue. Oba Aladelusi further added that Otunba Benson was the one who hired thugs and his refusal to pay them their fee led to the crisis and demolition witnessed at the site, saying he was only trying to point accusing fingers rather than blame himself for the mysteries he caused himself.
He said: “There was a disputed five hectares of land belonging to Akure and the court had asked him (Otunba Benson) not to work on the disputed area but only on the approved 15 hectares – we expect him to abide by the decision of the Court over the matter.
“The palace had no hand in the in-fight that occurred between the thugs he engaged on the land,” he said.
The King said Akure would not do anything that would disrupt its peace, but what would bring development and expansion, not anything contrary. The monarch urged the managing director to desist from blackmailing him and see Akure as a peaceful and accommodative land.
