Human rights activist Ogunlami Opeyemi Benjamin has accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Babatunde Saliu, of human rights abuses in the Ferry Community, alleging that an escaped prisoner named Nuru was making threats against the residents.
Taking to his X page, Benjamin called attention to the need for justice and demanded an end to the oppressive behavior, which he claims has been ongoing in the community.
He demanded that the Oba cease these violations of human rights and take action to ensure the safety and security of the residents in Ferry Community.
Ogunlami Opeyemi Benjamin revealed that a thug, Nuru, who was reportedly working for the Oba of Oworonshoki, Babatunde Saliu, was allegedly involved in the murder of Hon. Ali last year and was subsequently held in Panti Cell. Benjamin stated that the Oba had denied knowledge of Nuru’s affiliation with him. According to Benjamin, Nuru was seen two days ago leading a group of people to the residents of Precious Seed (Ferry Community) to deliver a message on behalf of the Oba.
“This is a reminder to the public and specially craving the indulgence of the @PoliceNG, @LagosPoliceNG, that the thug named Nuru, allegedly working for the Oba of Oworonshoki, in the community, who k!ll’d one Hon. Ali, last year and kept in Panti Cell and whose personality was denied by the king – Oba Babatunde Saliu, was seen 2 days ago, leading another set of persons to the residents of Precious Seed (Ferry Community) to deliver the King’s message.”
Adding to his account of Nuru’s visit, the activist stated that the alleged thug had informed the residents of Precious Seed (Ferry Community) that they needed to evacuate their homes due to the upcoming Ota Festival. Nuru further added that the community had been designated as a deity shrine (Igbo’ro), and that approximately 35 structures within the community had been marked for demolition.
“He informed them to evacuate the community, as they would be having their annual Ota Festival. He continued by saying, their community has been marked as a deity shrine (Igbo’ro). Meanwhile, about 35 structures have been marked for demolition.”
Summarizing the gravity of the situation in the Ferry Community, Opeyemi Benjamin asserted further that the threats made by Nuru represented the will of the Oba of Oworonshoki, and that these actions constitute an abuse of power. Benjamin made it clear that he and others would not stand idly by while the residents of the community are oppressed by these threats and warned the Nigerian government and security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force, to take action to protect the rights of these citizens.
“This was the King’s message to the residents on Thursday morning, July 17, 2024. I will like to reiterate that no persons constitutes disorderliness in that community, other than those who should be custodian of peace and tradition. We will not look on, seeing a single entity nor institution oppress fellow Nigerians in any form. We all must “…build a nation where no man is oppressed.”…
Earlier this month, the activist Opeyemi Benjamin has warned of a possible “bread and circuses” tactic, where the monarch attempts to pacify the residents with food and other gifts while pursuing the alleged plan to raze their properties.
The activist urged the residents to resist these seemingly benevolent offerings, as they could be a ploy to buy their silence and compliance.
He had denounced the visit of Seyi Tinubu’s wife and the Oba of Oworonshoki’s wife to the victims of the July 2023 demolition in Oworonshoki as a calculated move.
He explained that the “saviours” distributed food items to the poor, blamed the state and local governments for the demolition, and played the role of the sympathetic friend, all while obscuring the Oba’s alleged role in ordering the destruction.
Opeyemi implored the affected residents to be wary of accepting the gifts, fearing that it could be part of a larger strategy to seize their land and homes. He warned that the Oba’s act of distributing food could be the calm before the storm, as he’s allegedly been plotting to continue the demolition of properties using paid proxies. Emphasizing the need for vigilance and unity, he insisted that the people must resist this seemingly harmless act of charity, cautioning that the battle to preserve their properties isn’t over yet.
Reports in September 2023 had also revealed how the residents of Oworonshoki community, whose houses were demolished by agents of the state government, protested at the State House of Assembly.
The protesters, in their thousands, displayed placards and banners showing their distaste for the demolition of their houses, insisting that the action of the state government was illegal and inhuman.
The residents, under the auspices of Mosafejo, Idi Araba Peoples’ Front and Oworonshoki Eviction Campaign, carried out a massive protest in the Oworonshoki area over the same issue.
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