Traditional Worshippers on Monday, 24th May 2021 stormed an ongoing Federal Housing Project Site in Akure,Ondo State to perform a ritual thereby causing construction workers and contractors to flee the project site.
The worshippers, dress in white, came with a black fowl, white pigeon and other fetish objects to perform the ritual.
Following the apprehension caused by the worshippers, the Managing Director of the firm handling the construction, Otunba Ademola Akin-Benson, invited policemen to the site and the worshippers were taken to the Ondo Police headquarters.
Otunba Akin-Benson informed the police that the worshippers were being sponsored by some land grabbers to stop further work on the site.
He said the land was legally acquired by the federal government for the purpose of building the low-cost estate.
Akin-Benson disclosed that thugs and ritualists had previously attacked workers at the estate which made him to seek legal redress and the court ordered all parties including the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, to maintain the status quo and allow the project to continue.
His lawyer, Mr. Femi Emodamori described the presence of the worshippers as traditional hooliganism saying the land was acquired with other adjoining lands by the State Government over forty years ago, after payment of compensation to the original owners.
Consequently, according to our clients, the land is covered by Federal Government Layout, and also has adjoining Federal Government structures like the State Police Command Headquarter where your office is located; The Ondo State Headquarters of the Nigerian Customs Service; The Ondo State Headquarters of Nigerian Immigration Service; The National Population Commission’s Office; and the Federal High Court building, amongst others.
Leader of the worshippers, Chief Abisoye Asoga, the Adigun of Akureland, who denied allegations of land grabbing, said they were at the estate to perform the ritual at a small rock inside the estate, at least once in ten years.
On his part, Oba Aladetoyinbo said the land belonged to Akure traditional worshippers.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Michael Adeyeye, the Akure monarch said the ritual at the estate site was in line with the community’s tradition.
