The Ajeniju of Halleluyah, Oba Jelili Olaiya, has revealed that he was assaulted by angry youths at his palace despite the presence of security operatives. The monarch stated that the incident occurred following his decision to appoint a Chief Imam for the community, a move that reportedly sparked outrage among some residents.
The unrest, which disrupted Jumat prayers and led to the vandalization of his palace, unfolded last Friday. Speaking with journalists, Oba Olaiya explained that security personnel had earlier visited his palace to address concerns about the brewing tension and even reinforced their presence to avert violence. However, the situation escalated around 11:00 a.m. when hoodlums stormed the palace, which also serves as a makeshift mosque, and caused chaos.
“The place where the Imam was installed is not on Ido-Osun land. It is in front of my palace,” the monarch clarified. “We observed our Jumat prayers there, and the newly installed Imam had already led one prayer session before the attack. On that Friday, while preparing for prayers, some security officers, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ido-Osun, visited and expressed concerns over rumors about the installation of a new Imam and mosque. I explained that no new mosque was built and that the prayers were held in front of my palace.”
Oba Olaiya lamented that despite assurances from the security agencies present—including officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps—he was physically assaulted.
“The security personnel, numbering about 18, witnessed the attack but could not stop the hoodlums,” he added.
The monarch called for urgent action to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of his community.
