Ogun Monarch, Associates killed By Suspected Hoodlums Over Chieftaincy Row

Agodo, a community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State was thrown into mourning yesterday following the killing of its monarch, the Alagodo of Agodo, Oba Ayinde Odetola.

Hoodlums invaded the palace in the early hours of yesterday, killing the royal father and three of his associates, who were with him before setting their remains ablaze.

The victims were said to have returned from an engagement outside the community.

The late monarch, it was learnt, participated in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Convocation on January 18 after a degree in Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Business Administration.

There were fears that the gruesome attack and killings may not be unconnected to the festering crisis over Alagodo chieftaincy title over who has the right to occupy the seat between two tribal groups – Ake and Owu people of Egbaland.

The late monarch, it was gathered, was of the Ake extraction and there had been opposition to an Ake person administering the town mainly dominated by Owu people.

The Nation learnt that a brother to the late monarch was gruesomely murdered not too long ago.

One of the siblings of the late monarch, who identified herself as Mrs. Adenike Akintade, confirmed the death of her brother.

She said: “I had just been discharged from hospital early this morning, only to start mourning the brutal assassination of my brother by 11am.

“Kabiesi called me on Saturday, urging me to reduce my activities, saying stress could contribute to my illness.

“Oba Odetola lost his younger brother to the imbroglio some months ago; the young man was butchered by the so-called hoodlums; today, Kabiesi is no more. What a world!”

The Ogun Command Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Lanre Bankole and the Special Security Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr. Olusola Subair were in the town for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

According to Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the whole town had been deserted when the team visited.

He informed that the CP had directed that the homicide unit of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Command has launched an investigation into the matter.