Pandemonium broke out on Tuesday when hoodlums attacked the palace of the Oba‑elect of Isheri Oke, Jamiu Odunsi, to protest the execution of a court judgment in the Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. Armed with guns, cutlasses, stones and bottles, the attackers injured people inside the palace, shattered windows, destroyed the closed‑circuit television system and vandalised vehicles parked on the premises.
According to eyewitnesses gathered by our correspondent, the protest began around 10 a.m. at the palace’s front gate. What started as a demonstration quickly escalated into chaos: some assailants stormed the palace, while others protested on adjoining streets, setting bonfires on the road. Tajudeen Odunsi, who was meeting with family members and guests of the Oba‑elect, described the scene: “More than 100 hoodlums threw stones and bottles at us while we were in the compound with Jamiu Odunsi. To escape, some of us fled into the main building, but the attackers, who also had guns, forced entry, injured about five people, damaged vehicles and windows, and stole property, including phones. The CCTV recorded everything; the assailants fled when security agents arrived.”
Akintunde Kudoro, Secretary of the Olofin Chieftaincy Family, explained that the invasion was sparked by opposition to the execution of an Appeal Court judgment granted to his family on 16 March 2022. He said the family had publicised the judgment in newspapers and through letters, but received no response. Consequently, they sought court enforcement to recover their land. “The bailiff and sheriff, accompanied by police, began the execution at 7 a.m. While we were holding a meeting, those opposed to the execution led the hoodlums to attack us at 10 a.m,” Kudoro said. He added that the bailiff, sheriff and police were the ones carrying out the execution, but were attacked because they were perceived as judgment creditors.
A certified true copy of the judgment (case file CA/L/362/2010) and a notice posted on community buildings were seen by the correspondent. The notice stated that the statutory right of occupancy of the Olofin of Isheri Chieftaincy Family over a 151.656‑hectare parcel of land (Section 5, composite survey plan No. ADAKS/01/LA/2006) had been upheld by the court. It warned that the land occupied by residents fell within this parcel and, as of 11 April 2023, the judgment had been executed by the High Court sheriffs. The family claimed no interest in adversarial action except against those who might act against its interests.
A resident who wished to remain anonymous linked the current clash to a similar confrontation three years earlier, saying the dispute stems from land bought before some families’ forebears were born, with some now demanding repurchase of the land. The Oshorun of Isheri Oke, Saheed Olayinka‑Pasida, asserted that the judgment being executed had already been taken to the Supreme Court. “We are not a party to the suit; Isheri belongs to Oshorun, and we have filed a stay of execution. We were waiting for the court’s decision, but at 5 a.m. I received a call that about 100 boys were pasting paper because they have a judgment.”
Chief Albert Bankole, Baale of Isheri‑Oke, said he was warned on Monday night of a planned attack by persons claiming to have a judgment. “We tried to report to the DPO but could not find him. This morning the thugs began attacking some areas. Our people resisted, preventing further entry. When tyres were set on fire and movement stopped, the DPO arrived and addressed the crowd before the thugs left.”
The clash forced banks and shops to suspend operations. A GTBank official told our correspondent that the bank had just opened when police officials arrived with a court order to take over the premises, resulting in the staff and customers being sent away and the bank closing for the day.
After order was restored, State Commissioner of Police Idowu Owohunwa conducted an on‑site assessment, meeting the Oba‑elect and the Oshorun. He told journalists that a breach had occurred and those responsible would be held accountable. The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the investigation, and “the process of apprehending and bringing them to justice has commenced,” he said.
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