The Alase of Ilase in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba John Olaifa, decried the relentless harassment faced by residents in Ogun State’s border communities by security agents along the Ajilete-Idiroko Road. Oba Olaifa expressed concern that security personnel treated locals as if they were not Nigerians, creating an inhospitable environment and dissuading diaspora indigenes from returning home.
In a tragic incident on November 30, Eniola Adeleye, a student at Mayigi Community High School, Ilase, lost her life when reportedly struck by a policeman named Freedom while he pursued a fleeing driver. Oba Olaifa, reflecting on Adeleye’s death, lamented the recurrence of such incidents, questioning when the border area would see an end to the killing of innocent lives.
The monarch highlighted the challenges arising from the ban on fuel supply to border communities, recounting an incident where security agents seized a 30-litre keg of petrol intended for his generator. He opposed the proliferation of checkpoints along the Ajilete-Idiroko Road, citing approximately 30 police checkpoints, and expressed concerns about the potential impact on emergency situations, stating that excessive roadblocks could lead to dire consequences.
Oba Olaifa also criticized the high-handedness of camp boys at these roadblocks, emphasizing their brutality compared to regular security agents. He appealed to the government to promptly address these issues, urging measures to ensure the fair treatment of border residents and fostering a sense of true citizenship among them.
IMAGE: Punch
