The Nigeria Rights Human Community, NRHC, has accused Oba Johnson Folorunsho Aderiye, the Alayegunle of Ayegunle Ekiti, in Ekiti State of abuse of power. The human rights group claimed that the traditional ruler engaged in gross human rights violations in the state. It said that Oba Aderiye had illegally detained scores of young people in the community at various police stations in the state.
It all started, the NRHC noted, after youths of the community staged a peaceful protest against one of the chiefs in the community, Ojo Obasua, Olori Awo. Ojo had allegedly taken pictures of his concubine and threatened to post them on social media because she wanted to expose him for impregnating a minor. The youths staged a peaceful protest, calling for his removal as a chief in the community. However, instead of showing remorse, Ojo threatened them with charms and cursed them. Oba Aderiye, also supported him instead of trying to mediate peace.
The issue escalated to a point that prominent indigenes of the town had to intervene, but the traditional ruler and some chiefs were not pleased with the outcome, which made the issue to resurface after six months. Another serious protest was staged by the youths and many of them were detained.
Oba Aderiye, the human rights group revealed, recruited traditional guards who served as his thugs and harassed innocent people within the community. The leader pf the youths was allegedly arrested and beaten to stupor before he was locked up. Those who witnessed how he was maltreated staged another protest and demanded his release.
The youths also seized one of Oba Aderiye’s children and threatened to exchange the child for their leaders’ freedom. Some of the chiefs who tried to intervene and restore peace to the community were arrested and detained. Some shops belonging to the youth loyalists and supporters were locked and Ojo continued to threaten anyone who raised his voice against the monarch. The police had to step in to restore order in the community but the youth leader was not released. Some of the youths had to write a petition to the NHRC and asked for their intervention.
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