A traditional leader of Orile Ifo in Ogun State, Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, has been invited by the Nigeria Police Force for assaulting Chief Abraham Areola, a 73-year-old man.
Despite his courteous attempts to inquire as to what he had done wrong, the elderly man was struck from behind by one of the monarch’s aides, who snatched his cap as he knelt confused, according to the two-minute video.
The elderly man was accused of betraying his position of authority by the traditional ruler, who was heard taunting him and hurling insults at him.
The traditional ruler said: “You are a conspirator and a betrayer. Your children will not succeed. It will never be well with you, your wife and your children. You will continue to live in abject poverty. You will die and you will turn blind. Whoever thinks he is courageous enough should come out to face me. The entire Ifo land belongs to me.”
“I will send you to prison. I own the entire Nigeria Police Force. I will send you to prison. Even if you die, we shall bury you and nothing will happen and nobody will even know,” the traditional ruler threatened.
The victim said that the traditional ruler had threatened him with death, despite being unaware of his alleged offence. The monarch, however, denied being the person seen humiliating the elderly man in the video during a separate interview with PUNCH on Sunday.
However, sources within the community, the victim, and Emmanuel Ojo, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, confirmed the monarch’s identity in a post condemning the video.
Emmanuel Ojo also condemned the incident in a post shared on his various social media handles.
He said the incident stemmed from a kingship supremacy dispute.
The governor’s aide wrote: “I came across a disturbing video online showing Chief Arinola Abraham Love (JP) being subjected to public humiliation and physical assault.
“In the video, he was seen kneeling on the road while being slapped and verbally abused by someone identified as Ọba Semiu Olawale Ogunjobi, the Oloorile of Orile Ifo.
“This incident reportedly stemmed from a kingship supremacy dispute.
“The king allegedly took offence at Chief Arinola Abraham Love’s perceived support for a coronet Oba named Wasiu (as mentioned in the video). In response, he confronted the elderly man in his area and treated him in a manner unbefitting of a traditional ruler.
“Such an act is highly condemnable and completely unjustifiable, regardless of the underlying issues.
“There are more dignified and lawful ways to address disputes, especially among traditional leaders. Resorting to force, assault, and public humiliation is unacceptable and must be strongly denounced.”
Giving an update on the issue, the Police Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the traditional ruler has been invited and interviewed.
“The Oba has been invited and interrogated today by the command. The matter is being looked into for justice to prevail. Nobody can claim to be controlling the NPF. Justice must be served by all means,” the police spokesperson wrote.
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Published by Ejoh Caleb
