By Idowu Adebomi, Ado-Ekiti
Tensions have reached a breaking point in Ijesa-Isu Ekiti, Ekiti State, following allegations by the Regent, Princess Omobolaji Adeniyi, that she was physically assaulted and barred from the palace.
The incident marks a volatile turn in the protracted crisis surrounding the selection of a new monarch for the community.
The confrontation occurred shortly after the Ekiti State Government announced the approval of a new Obanla, a decision currently facing a legal challenge from aggrieved contestants.
Residents report that the move has further inflamed local sentiment, with many accusing influential figures of undermining traditional sanctity and overstepping their authority.
According to community sources, the latest episode was triggered by concerns raised by the Regent regarding actions she believed would destabilize the town during the transition.
Speaking on the ordeal, Princess Adeniyi alleged that security operatives humiliated her and blocked her access to the palace while she attempted to retrieve her personal belongings.
She described the experience as a painful betrayal of her years of selfless service, noting that she had put her personal life on hold to ensure the town’s stability following the passing of the previous monarch.
The Regent explained that she had been receiving medical treatment in Ado-Ekiti when she heard the news of the new appointment.
Despite not being medically fit and having received no official notice to vacate, she returned to Ijesa-Isu the following morning to pack her effects to avoid any sudden confusion.
However, she claimed that upon her arrival, operatives of the Agro-Marshal and the Amotekun Corps subjected her to harassment and allegedly beat her driver. Princess Adeniyi further asserted that it took the intervention of the Department of State Services before she was permitted to remove her clothes and items inherited from her late father.
While the Regent specifically accused the Chairman of Kajola LCDA, Hon. Ojo Ajayi, of orchestrating the lockout, the Chairman has categorically denied the claims.
Reacting to the allegations, Ajayi described them as false and misleading, insisting that he never issued orders for the Regent’s removal or directed security personnel to prevent her from moving her property.
As of the time of this report, the chieftaincy dispute remains unresolved. Local stakeholders continue to call for restraint and a return to due process to prevent the situation from escalating into further communal unrest.
