Those who killed my son are after me, cries out Lagos monarch

[MrVan]

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

"As you can see the entire  place is peaceful, no insecurity, no violence, nobody was killed, people are going about their normal businesses. The rumour making the rounds that hoodlums have taken over Isheri-Olofin is unfounded and baseless, it is the handiwork of mischievous people in the community.

You can go around the community to verify things for yourself and get the truth". With this statement, the Oniseri of Isheri-Olofin, Oba Wahabi Ayinde Balogun opened this conversation when Vanguard  Metro, VM, visited him in his Palace to get his reaction to rumours of crisis in his dormain and the sudden death of one of his sons, Ibrahim, who was killed by a fast moving vehicle about 200 metres away from his father's palace.

The Oba recently won the case in a land that has been in dispute for 40 years between indigenes of Isheri-Olofin and Idimu. The land is located in old Isheri comprising Egbe, Igando, Meshindi (Ogbomosho) villages and others.

At the time of VM's visit on Tuesday, family members, relatives, friends, and sympathisers were trooping into the palace to commiserate with the Oba on the death of his son. All present was in a  sombre mood, except the traditional ruler who managed a stoic disposition, having resigned to fate with the expressed belief that God giveth and taketh any time He wishes. Prince Ibrahim was said to have been buried on Monday according to Muslim rites.

Sequel to the death of Ibrahim, the Oba was hosting other Obas from adjoining communities at the palace on the fateful day. It was in the course of that the news filtered into the palace, sending the entire area into commotion. Ibrahim, a popularly acknowledged lovable person in the community, was born on April 14, 1968 to the royal family of Ayinde Balogun and was a mechanic before his death.

Oba Balogun and late Prince Ibrahim According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at about 4.30 pm last Sunday opposite Idimu Primary School. Ibrahim, who was on a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada was hit by a car on high speed. His body which was trapped under the car was dragged some distance before the car sped off. He was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital by the people around who were oblivious of his status as a Prince of Isheri.

Three victims were involved in the accident: the prince, the Okada rider and a petty trader, who fries bean cake and yam nearby. But while the Okada rider and the woman were later discharged after medical treatment, the story ended tragically for  Ibrahim as he was later confirmed dead by the family doctor at St Williams Hospital, Seliat, along Egbeda, same day following the serious injuries he sustained.

As the news of Ibrahim's death spread like wild fire on Monday, shop owners who were just settling down for their normal business activities for the day, hurriedly closed shops, while parents and guardians rushed to various schools to retrieve their children and wards, following rumours that there was going to be a local masquerade called Oro that normally comes out at midnight for a specific traditional rites.

But, it was later confirmed that there was no such plans to organise the Oro, but the figment of the imagination of some people who capitalised on the situation to cause chaos.

It was said that some  Okada riders gathered and went in their large numbers to commiserate with the Oba on the death of his son. Their appearance, however, triggered fear in the people who thought there was going to be break down of law and order.

With the news of impending violence spreading among the people, the Area M, Commander of the Lagos State Police Command, Alhaji Ibrahim Kaoje, quickly dispatched armed policemen on patrol to maintain peace in the area.

Kaoje, who was cornered at the Oba's palace when he visited to commiserate with the family, said there was no crisis whatsoever as the area was calm and orderly, adding that those who were spreading the news of violence were being mischievous. "The driver was immediately arrested and is being detained. He will be charged with manslaughter," he said.

The father of the deceased, Oba Ayinde Balogun narrated thus: "I was hosting other obas around this area who have come to rejoice with me and the people of Isheri-Olofin over the court victory on the disputed land. The car of one of my guests developed a fault and being a Sunday, no mechanic was around to fix it. So I called my son, Ibrahim, who is also a mechanic to help him, which he gladly accepted to do.

"He went to get the spare part that needed to be replaced at Idimu Market, but when he got back from the market, the spare part did not fit the type required for the faulty car. So, he decided to take Okada to go and change the spare part.

He boarded the Okada so as to return early as the night was fast approaching. The next thing we heard was that he was involved in a serious accident few metres away from the palace. I quickly asked my other sons and daughters to rush down to the hospital; they later came back with the sad news of his death. I have resigned to fate, God knows why. I have no premonition of his death.

"Before the death, I have been receiving threat messages from the other party on the land dispute that they were going to invade the palace and unleash mayhem and I have already reported this to the police authorities. As I speak now, my life and the lives of my family members are under  serious threat from this faceless people, but I know they will not succeed.

"I thank God the Idimu Divisional Police Officer, DPO, has provided us with a 24-hour police surveillance for protection. The people in the community have also assured me of their support all the time. We are peace-loving people; if not there would have been pandemonium by now in the area but we will not descend so low in doing that. I am the custodian of our tradition, I owe my people the duty of ensuring there's peace and tranquillity in the area".

Vanguard Nigeria