Residents of Obe Nla, Obe Adun and Obe Jedo communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Thursday protested the alleged delay in the disbursement of a N400 million relief fund approved by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for victims of recent violence in the area.
The protesters blocked the entrance of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) headquarters in Akure, locking its gate and preventing staff from exiting the premises. They said the protest was meant to draw government attention to what they described as the unjustifiable suffering of victims months after the incident.
The protest came days after the communities petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged killings, destruction of property and theft of millions of naira by operatives of the Nigerian Navy attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Omosohanne Obadiah accused naval personnel of invading the affected communities in a manner he likened to a war operation, during which houses were vandalised, residents assaulted and women allegedly molested.
Obadiah said the Ondo State Government, following intervention by Ilaje Omuro Worldwide Connect, approved and released N400 million to OSOPADEC in November 2025 to compensate verified victims, but lamented that the fund had allegedly not reached those affected.
“We are deeply concerned and disappointed that four months after the release of this fund, victims are still suffering. This money was approved to bring relief, yet families cannot afford food, clothing or shelter. I personally lost a bakery and other properties to the incident,” he said.
He further alleged that the OSOPADEC Chairman, Mr. Biyi Poroye, had kept the fund in a government account since November, thereby withholding it from beneficiaries.
According to him, the delay has worsened poverty in the communities and eroded trust in government interventions meant to cushion the impact of security-related crises.
The protesters demanded the immediate release of the N400 million to all verified victims, a transparent investigation into the handling of the fund, and urgent intervention by the Ondo State Government to prevent a recurrence.
Several victims also narrated their experiences. Inuejulawo Adewunmi recounted how naval officers allegedly stormed the communities, leaving residents traumatised and homeless. Another protester, Precilia Omogbemi, said no palliative or assistance had been given to victims since the incident occurred.
Mrs. Oluwakemi, who said she lost two houses during the attacks, vowed that the protesters would not leave OSOPADEC premises until concrete steps were taken to address their plight.
Addressing the protesters, the Secretary of OSOPADEC, Abike Bayo-Ilawole, appealed for calm, assuring them that the commission was working towards a transparent disbursement process.
“Yes, money has been approved for the victims, and the fund is not the issue. What we are trying to do is to put the right logistics in place so that the right people benefit,” she said.
Ilawole explained that the commission was fine-tuning a committee to properly identify victims and assess losses, noting that some residents lost houses, boats and fishing equipment.
“We want to go back to the communities to verify who lost what. Without clear data, distribution will be problematic,” she added, assuring that OSOPADEC officials would visit the affected communities by Monday.
Fidelis David in Akure
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