The Traditional Ruler of Ita-Oba Kingdom, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Alhaji Akeem Durodola, has appealed to youths in the community to remain calm and allow the police to handle the situation surrounding Idris Bodurin, who has been accused of involvement in indecent behaviour.
The appeal follows renewed protests by some youths in the community, who reportedly stormed Bodurin’s family residence to express their displeasure over what they described as a violation of the community’s cultural and religious values.
Durodola urged residents to exercise restraint, stressing that violence would only worsen the situation.
“Violence is not the answer to this matter. The police are already handling the situation, and I appeal to our youths to remain calm and allow the authorities to do their work,” the traditional ruler said.
He further urged residents not to take the law into their own hands, emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution of the matter.
Similarly, the community’s youth leader, Teslim Adeleye, expressed concern over the allegations against Bodurin, describing the reported conduct as a disregard for the community’s cultural values.
Adeleye, however, said he would not encourage anyone to attack Bodurin violently if he were apprehended, while acknowledging the difficulty of restraining angry youths should tensions escalate.
“I am not going to encourage anyone to attack Bodurin violently if he is caught. However, I cannot guarantee what may happen if the situation gets out of hand, as the anger among some youths is considerable,” he said.
He called on the police to intensify efforts to locate and apprehend Bodurin, adding that a swift response would help address residents’ concerns and ease tensions within the community.
“The police need to speed up their investigation and take the necessary lawful steps to address this matter. Prompt action will help reassure the people and prevent further tension,” Adeleye said.
The Chief Imam of Ita-Oba, Alhaji Wasiu Ajagbe, also expressed displeasure over the allegations, saying the development had brought embarrassment to the community.
Ajagbe called on the police and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts to locate Bodurin and ensure that the matter was addressed through the appropriate legal process.
“This development has brought shame to our community, and we expect the relevant authorities to act swiftly. The police should not relent in their efforts to locate him and ensure that the matter is handled in accordance with the law,” the Chief Imam said.
He urged the authorities to sustain their efforts towards resolving the matter, while calling for appropriate legal action based on the outcome of the investigation.
The appeals by the community leaders come amid heightened tensions surrounding the allegations, with renewed calls for restraint and a lawful resolution.
The leaders urged residents, particularly the youths, to avoid taking the law into their own hands and allow the police to handle the situation in accordance with the law.
