Breaking News:Ekiti govt bans felling of trees on disputed community land
The Ekiti government has ordered an instant end to the felling of trees on disputed land between Eda Ile Ekiti and Isinbode Ekiti, both in the Ekiti East government Area.
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who gave the directive on Thursday while hosting traditional rulers from the government area led by the Olomuo f Omuo Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, said the move became necessary to forestall the breakdown of law and order that would cause loss of lives and property.
According to a press release by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, the meeting was also attended by four other traditional rulers who all pleaded with the govt to make sure peace within the disputed area.
They are the Alasa of Ilasa Ekiti, Oba Oluwasesan Ajayi; the Olomuo Oke of Omuo Oke Ekiti, Oba Valentine Otitoju; the Onikun of Ikun Oba Ekiti, Oba Timothy Ibiyinka and therefore the Elekota of Kota Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Fagbemi.
Egbeyemi said this administration wouldn’t tolerate any act that would cause a breach of peace among the two communities, the government, or any part of the state.
The Deputy Governor stressed that anyone caught violating the govt order would face the wrath of the law. He warned residents of the two towns not to engage in lumbering or any economic activity on the disputed land until all issues are resolved.
He said: “We want peace among our people and any action which will trigger crisis should be avoided. Let’s embrace peace and resolve the dispute peacefully.”
Earlier, the Olomuo, Oba Omonigbehin, said the land at issue between the two communities generated tension and breach of peace in the Ekiti East council area, especially between Eda Ile and Isinbode.
Oba Omonigbehin, who called on the government to expedite action on the disputed land, said the people living within the axis, including the monarch, are afraid that the strain could snowball into mayhem if urgent action isn’t taken.
The Alasa, Oba Ajayi, appealed to the youths on Ekiti East to not collaborate with hoodlums to unleash terror within the area.
Oba Ajayi, who alleged that most of the crises within the government area within the past had hands of insiders, urged the youths not to allow themselves to be wont to perpetrate crisis in their communities.
The monarchs pledged to travel back home and perform peacebuilding moves to guarantee that the strain is doused and restoration of peace between the two brother communities.
