Ojude Oba: Vigilante warns robbers to stay away from Ijebuland

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

With the 2014 carnival like, Ojude Oba festival weeks away, the state managed security agent, Vigilante Services of Ogun, VSO, has warned armed robbers and other people with nefarious acts to stay away from Ijebu Ode and its environs as they are fully prepared for them.

The group also disclosed that new modalities and techniques would be in place to ensure that the Ojude Oba festival, which attracts people from all over the world, is celebrated without hitches.

It would be recalled that Ojude Oba festival is a carnival like festival where sons and daughters of Ijebu pay homage to the Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II and where many including the horse riding families demonstrates their prowess.

The festival usually comes up on the third day of Ileya (Muslim Celebration) and this year’s festival may likely comes up on either 6th or 7th October, 2014 as Ileya is to be celebrated on either 4th or 5th of October, 2014.

Disclosing this in an interview with PM News, Ijebu Zonal Commander of the group, Marcus Adedoyin Ayankoya promised that this year’s festival will be record-breaking as all hands are on deck to ensure that everybody that comes into town to celebrate with the people and enjoy themselves to the fullest without any fear of molestation or attack.

“We are not sleeping over our good record of last year. Many people were still basking in the euphoria of what
happened during the last year’s Ojude Oba festival, but we have put that aside and have commenced planning for this year’s event. It would be interesting to note that many people will be coming in this year because of many things.

“Some may be coming in to see the construction of the new bridges constructed by the governor and other infrastructural facilities, not only in Ijebu Ode, but across the state. Some might be eager to see some of their families and friends whom they have seen for long and some other reasons. But, we should not rule out the
fact that, no robbers can operate without having someone inside that will be their guide but we are working hard to ensure no such thin happens. With God on our side, this year record will surpass that of last year.

“We have trained our personnel on new techniques and have equipped them too. We have also opened up more units all across Ijebuland and well trained personnel both in uniform and mufti have been posted to monitor the influx of people to all the towns and villages, which normally, is the point of meeting of robbers before they move out to Ijebu Ode to operate. We will also be monitoring luggages coming in and out of the town this time around to avoid importation of dangerous weapons and ammunitions into the town. These and many other plans are in place to see that we have a hitch free festival,” Ayankoya revealed.

Corroborating the Zonal Commander’s view, the Ijebu Ode Commander, Comrade Yemi Ijaoba Odukoya declared that total war is awaiting robbers during this festive period.

“We are planning ahead of them and whoever comes in for the festival will sleep and have their two eyes closed. We have just concluded our training at Tata community in Obafemi-Owode local government area of the State and we have achieved a lot, the technical aspect of our job and we have been exposed to modern techniques and we are fully ready to put in place all the techniques we have been taught.

“The SSS, NDLEA, Civil Defence, Vigilante Service and some youths that we will co-opt will help combat whoever
is planning to cause unrest in the town and I strongly believe that with this strategy, cult crisis and other vices would be laid to rest in Ijebu Ode and its environs,” the Ijebu Ode VSO leader revealed.