>
By Emmanuel Adeleke
Some angry youths on Thursday evening vandalised and set the palace of Aree of Iree, in Boripe North Local Council Development Area of Osun State, on fire.
The palace was said to have been burnt by youths who were not happy about the arrest of the Aogun of Iree, Chief Soliu Atoyebi, by security agents on Thursday morning.
The palace, it was gathered, was attacked and set ablaze around 7pm. The traditional ruler of the town, Oba Ponle Ademola, was said to be out of the palace when the incident happened.
The aggrieved youths reportedly blocked all the major roads leading to the town and made burn fires on the roads.
Business owners in the town were said to have immediately locked up their shops, while residents also remained indoors.
Recall that the state governor, Sen Ademola Adeleke, had on Monday issued an Executive Order setting aside the appointment and enthronement of three traditional rulers– Aare of Iree, Akirun of Ikirun and Owa of Igbajo.
Adeleke also directed that the palaces of the three traditional rulers should be locked up and security agents should take over the palaces to prevent breakdown of law and order.
There had been palpable apprehension in Iree town following the appointment and of Prince Ponle Ademola as the Aree of Iree by the immediate past administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Some ruling houses and groups in the town rejected the selection of Ademola, alleging that he was imposed on the people by Oyetola’s administration.
