Seek urgent deployment of security operatives as crisis lingers
Following the crisis rocking Ayetoro, a riverine community in Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State, over the alleged diversion of N150 million oil-spill compensation, the leadership of the community, yesterday, called for the urgent deployment of security operatives to put a stop to continued attacks by hoodlums.
The leaders, while refuting the allegation of diverting the compensation paid by Mobil Oil over the spillage that occurred a few years ago, said that the money was judiciously expended.
The Asiwaju of Ayetoro, Gani Ojagbohunmi, who spoke on behalf of the Ogeloyinbo in Council and the community’s Board of Trustees, distanced the traditional ruler of the town from the disbursement of the compensation, saying the oil spill predated his emergence as the monarch of the community.
Ojagbohunmi said about four houses had been destroyed by some aggrieved members of the community, while property worth millions of naira were carted away during the protest.
According to him, no fewer than 84 buildings had been torched and destroyed over the crisis in the coastal community between 2015 and date, following the Obaship tussle that had been settled in court.
Ojagbohunmi, however, urged the state government “to urgently mobilise the Mobile Police Force and other security agents to Ayetoro community to maintain law and order.
The Asiwaju of Ayetoro admitted that the first tranche of the compensation was paid to the community’s account after the lawyer representing the community had deducted his legal fee in line with the agreement with him.
He said that N90 million was released and all relevant beneficiaries affected by the spillage, who organised themselves into groups and co-operatives, donors and the litigants, were paid.
Ojagbohunmi said the compensation was disbursed to beneficiaries mainly through their bank accounts, adding that few people without bank accounts were paid in cash, and they signed for record purpose.
