Sacrilege: How Community Leader Allegedly Attacked Ondo Monarch, Bites Off His Ear at Public Function
By: Olufemi Orunsola
A daring attack that many people have described as a daring act of sacrilege has thrown the Igbokoda kingdom in Ondo into a chaotic trauma after a community leader, reportedly attacked the traditional ruler of the town, the Olu of Igbokoda, biting off a section of one of the ears of the royal father.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA OTN News reports as gathered that the sacrilegious encounter took place at Igbokoda, the administrative seat of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, earlier this week during an event where the Ondo Governor was being expected for the commissioning of the newly completed 27.5-kilometre Igbokoda-Okitipupa dual carriageway.
OTN News further gathered that prior to the arrival of the Ondo Governor, the monarch, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Odidiomo Afolabi had ordered the community leader who became uncontrollable, to vacate a seat meant for royal fathers, only for the community leader in question to launch verbal attacks against the monarch, assaulted him and ultimately bitten off one of the ears of the king in the presence of subjects present at the scenario.
In the cause of the attack, the said man whose name is withheld until further confirmation by relevant police authorities was said to have snatched the monarch’s crown and royal beads before biting off a section of Oba Odidiomo’s ear.
Meanwhile, a shocking video of the assault on the Yoruba monarch has emerged with the monarch seen bleeding profusely from the head as palace aides and sympathisers swiftly made efforts to support him and subsequently rushed him to nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment, of which he could not attend the commissioning again.
Although Governor Aiyedatiwa later arrived for the commissioning, he had yet to issue any formal statement on the incident as of press time.
In the meantime, residents, traditional chiefs, and Yoruba socio-cultural advocates have taken it upon themselves to protest against the community leader, describing his action as a desecration of the traditional institution.
Also, youths, women, and community elders took to the streets of Igbokoda in protest, some half-clad in a symbolic display of mourning and defiance.
The protesters, OTN News gathered, marched through the town, chanting solidarity songs while demanding justice for the monarch.
According to one of the protesters, “This is not just an attack on our Kabiyesi; it is an abomination against Yoruba culture."
“To attack a king, in public, and in such a disgraceful manner — it’s unheard of. That man has committed a taboo that must not go unpunished", he affirmed.
Meanwhile, palace sources close have hinted that a formal petition is being prepared for submission to the state government and security agencies. However, the Ondo State Police Command has yet to confirm receiving any formal report on the matter.
“We are not aware of any such case at this moment. No report has been filed,” the command’s spokesperson, SP Olusola Ayanlade, told News Men.
Prominent voices across the state have called for immediate action, urging Governor Aiyedatiwa to ensure the matter is swiftly investigated and that the perpetrator is held accountable to preserve the sanctity of Yoruba traditional leadership.
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