Oriade Makes Case for Peace in Warring Ibeshe Communities

The Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Alhaja Ramotalai Akinlola-Hassan, has appealed to warring factions in Ibeshe to embrace peace and allow government to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

Reports had it that a clash broke out between the indigenous people (mainly youths) of Ibeshe and residents of Ibeshe Sea Beach last Monday over an alleged refusal of some residents of Sea Beach to obtain permission from the traditional ruler of the community.

This, they said, was in accordance with the traditional rites, according to the Ovori of Ibeshe, Oba Alani Gausu, before the interment of a corpse in their settlement.

It was learnt that some youths from Ibeshe main town attacked the residents, looted properties, shops and also razed many houses.

The youths were said to have vandalised Ibeshe Police Station while two persons hit by stray bullets from security forces died.

Addressing residents of Ibeshe Sea Beach, while on a sympathy visit to the community on Friday, Akinlola-Hassan, who was accompanied on the visit by political and community leaders in Oriade, as well as security personnel from Area ‘L’ Command, Ibeshe and Ilashe Police divisions, condoled the people over the loss of their properties and assured them that the government would do everything to ensure that such needless crisis did not occur again in the community.

“I am not here as an indigene of Ibeshe, but as the Chief Security Officer and Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, to sympathise with you and ensure that total peace is restored in your community,” she said.

While appealing to the people, most especially, youths, to refrain from any reprisal attack and maintain peace, Akinlola-Hassan said a report about the incident had already been submitted to the Lagos State Government, adding that by next week, a peace meeting would be held at the council secretariat, where 12 representatives of each community would be invited to a roundtable discussion, to resolve the crisis in the interest of peace.

The council boss added that as part of government efforts to give immediate relief to the people over the loss of their properties and businesses, the council would make available 300 pieces of Ankara fabrics to be distributed among the people who have lost all their properties, including their clothes to the crisis.

She also told them that the local government would give N300,000 each to women, youths and the elderly as temporary relief.

Akinlola-Hassan added that government would work out plans on how to provide adequate relief package for all the affected people.

A former member of the House Of Representatives, Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Ganiyu Olukolu; former chairman of Ojo Local Government in the Second Republic, Chief Isiaka Ajakaye, and Oriade Council Manager, Semiu Akitoye also addressed residents of Ibeshe Sea beach during the visit.

They echoed the council chairman’s appeal for peace, reminding them that it was only in an atmosphere of peace that the people could live happily and go about their day-to-day business.

The Chairman of Sea Beach Ibeshe Community Development Association (CDA), Francis Gbemu, who spoke on behalf of the community, pleaded with the people, especially the youths, to sheathe their swords and allow the government and security agencies resolve the crisis.

Oba Gausu condemned the violent clash in its entirety, adding that the two communities had been living peacefully together for many years, saying the crisis was an avoidable one.

He commended the council boss and the security agencies for their prompt intervention that prevented the crisis from degenerating further.