By Sunday Oyinloye
The Baale of Igberi Enle in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Chief Kamal AbdulRahman Alasonla, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to urgently intervene in what he described as persistent intimidation and unlawful arrests of his people by police officers attached to the Ilemona Police Division.
In a statement made available to journalists, the traditional ruler said his decision to go public followed several failed attempts at dialogue with Ilemona Police Division and Ilemona community over what he termed “unprovoked harassment” of his subjects.
According to the Baale, residents of Igberi Enle have suffered repeated abuse and arbitrary arrests allegedly carried out by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ilemona.
“I have reported the misconduct of the DPO and his men to the State Police Command, the DSS, and other law enforcement agencies several times, but nothing has changed. When my people go to their farms, they are abused, tortured, and arrested unlawfully. The situation is becoming unbearable.”Alasonla said
Chief Alasonla narrated that on October 22, 2025, a court official visited his palace seeking assistance in locating one Nasiru Galadima, believed to be connected with some Fulani and Bororo residents in the area.
He said one of his chiefs accompanied the court bailiff to deliver a court invitation but was allegedly held hostage by a mob until some men who claimed to be police officers—without identification—arrived from Ilemona and took both the court official and his chief away.
“They were taken to Ilemona without any charges. The DPO has been using his men to intimidate our people. We reported the case to the Area Commander in Offa, but no action was taken,” he alleged.
The Baale, who spoke from the Netherlands where he is undergoing a medical check-up, expressed disappointment that despite several reports to the authorities, no meaningful action has been taken to address the issue.
“We have always supported the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman. We have coexisted peacefully with the indigenous Offa people, the Fulani and Bororo on our land. But this continuous harassment is destroying that peace,” he said.
He added that the community had filed multiple reports and court petitions over the alleged intimidation, but most of the cases were either ignored or left unattended.
“We were told a committee would be set up to investigate, but that never happened. Our people now live in fear and run whenever they hear that Ilemona people are coming,” the Baale lamented.
Chief Alasonla also acknowledged the efforts of the Olofa of Offa, His Royal Majesty Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, to resolve the crisis but noted that the unlawful arrests and intimidation have persisted.
“I am not a politician, but a tax-paying Nigerian who loves this country. I employ people in my palace and in my company. I have the right to protect those under my care,” he stated.
He accused some individuals of attempting to encroach on his community’s land and using law enforcement agents to intimidate residents.
“We have tried to dialogue with His Royal Highness, the Elemona of Ilemona, Oba Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, but without success. It appears there is a deliberate attempt to stop our people from going to their farms,” he said.
The Baale appealed to President Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Governor AbdulRazaq to intervene urgently to prevent the situation from degenerating into a communal crisis.
“We will continue to pursue peace, but when people are pushed to the wall, they will react. I am calling on the authorities to act now before it is too late,” he warned.
