𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗘: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

11𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹, 2026.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, has called for calm and restraint among warring communities in Ese-Odo Local Government Area following escalating tensions over disputed land.

The development was contained in a statement released online and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Mr. Dennis Pounah, and made available to newsmen.

Lawal made the appeal during a working visit to Igbekebo, the council headquarters, and Agadagba Obon, where recent clashes linked to land ownership disputes have reportedly led to violence, including the burning of houses in Gbeleju Oke and parts of the Odo area.

He was received by the Executive Chairman of Ese-Odo LGA, High Chief Caleb Ebimobowei Molos, alongside Hon. Samuel Ebijoh Jemi, Chairman of Arogbo LCDA, members of the local cabinet, as well as traditional rulers and their representatives.

Addressing stakeholders, the police commissioner said the intervention became necessary due to rising insecurity fueled by land encroachment, farmland destruction and reprisal attacks involving dangerous weapons.

“The duty of the Police is to ensure the safety of lives and property. I am not here to apportion blame but to appeal to all parties, traditional rulers, parents and youths to embrace peace. Violence only leads to destruction and setbacks,” he said.

He urged traditional institutions to play a stabilising role by counselling their subjects and discouraging further escalation of the crisis.

However, traditional authorities from both sides maintained their claims over the disputed territory. The Alapaka of Kiribo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Oduyi Ajayi, and High Chief Pius Kpejo, who represented the Agadagba of Arogbo Ibe Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty (Pere) Doubra Zaccheaous Egbunu, JP, Opukutu III, reaffirmed their respective ownership positions, citing historical accounts. Both parties, however, acknowledged that the matter is already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

In his remarks, the council chairman, Molos, reiterated his administration’s commitment to neutrality and peaceful resolution of disputes across Ese-Odo, highlighting steps taken to de-escalate tensions, including engagement with security agencies and on-the-spot assessments of affected communities.

He recalled a recent incident where a major access road was blocked during a market day but was later reopened through coordinated efforts with security personnel, restoring normalcy.

Following the stakeholder meeting in Igbekebo, the commissioner of police and the council chairman proceeded to Gbeleju Oke and the Agadagba Obon bridge axis to assess the extent of damage and the situation on the ground.