•The protesters
People from three communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday protested alleged delay in the disbursement of a sum of N400million relief fund to them.
The communities, which include Obe Nla, Obe Adun and Obe Jedo, said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa approved the relief fund for victims of recent violence in the area to be disbursed by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), reports Daily Independent.
Protesting at Oba-Ile headquarters of the commission, in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, the angry protesters barricaded the gate, preventing members of staff from leaving the premises.
They said the protest became necessary to draw the attention of the state governor to the “unjustifiable suffering” of the victims months after the incident.
The communities had a couple of days ago 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.
One of the leaders of the protesters, Omosohanne Obadiah alleged naval personnel of invading the affected communities in a manner reminiscent of 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 the fund has 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.”
The protesters alleged that the chairman, OSOPADEC, Biyi Poroye, fixed the fund in a government account since November, thereby withholding it from the beneficiaries.
Obadiah explained that the delay has worsened poverty in the communities and eroded trust in government interventions meant to cushion the impact of security-related crises.
Consequently, 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.”
The victims, during the protest, took turns to narrate their ordeals.
One of them, Inuejulawo Adewunmi recalled how naval officers allegedly stormed the communities, leaving residents traumatised and homeless.
In her narration, Precilia Omogbemi disclosed that no palliative or form of assistance had been given to victims since the incident happened.
Mrs. Oluwakemi, another victim, who said she lost two houses during the attacks, vowed that they would not leave OSOPADEC premises until their plights are addressed by the management.
However, the Secretary of OSOPADEC, Abike Bayo-Ilawole, appealed to the protesters to remain calm, assuring them that the commission was working towards a transparent disbursement of the fund.
She said: “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.
“We want to go back to the communities to verify who lost what. Some lost houses, others lost boats and engines. Without clear data, distribution will be problematic.”
Explaining further, Ilawole said the commission was fine-tuning a committee to properly identify victims and assess the extent of losses.
She said some of the protesters lost houses, boats and fishing equipment.
Ilawole assured that on Monday next week, OSOPADEC officials would unfailingly visit the affected communities for proper identification.
