BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE—POLICE in Ondo State have secured the release of Oba Samuel Oyegbemi, abducted by some militant youths in riverine Ijaw community, Iju-Osun, Ondo State.

Last week the militants invaded the town and  abducted  Oba Oyegbemi, set his palace ablaze, other buildings and allegedly killed five persons.

Speaking with newsmen, Ondo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Aremu Adeniran, said the monarch, was hale and hearty.

Adeniran said a combined team of the anti-riot and regular police officers, deplored in the area, secured the release of the monarch on Saturday.

He said the monarch was in high spirit and was not rough-handled by the Ijaw youths who abducted him after setting his palace and other houses ablaze, during their rampage.

He said nobody had been arrested by the police over the unfortunate development, but confirmed that the command had begun  investigation into the matter.

Reports had it that some Militants youths from Ijaw  invaded Iju-Osun town in the Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State and burnt the place.

Adeniran, however said only two lives were lost while the palace of the monarch and two other houses were torched.

According to him  that the ijaw youths were probably on a revenge mission following the discovery of the body of an ex militants in Iju-Osun, on Thursday.

He said, “Security has been beefed up to avert further loss of life Ikale. Our men are there.

We are making efforts to release the monarch. The man is good. No report of any clash was recorded before the discovery of the corpse of the late monarch in the town”

It was learnt that the invasion of the town by the ex-militants, followed the mysterious death of a middle aged Ijaw man, simply identified as Samuel in the town.

The deceased reportedly hailed from Arogbo Ijaw in Ese odo local government.

A High Chief in the town told reporters on Friday that the militants shot sporadically and later set several houses including the palace of the Olughogho of Iju –Osun, ablaze.

He said residents of neighboring towns like Ajagba, Akotogbo and other villages in the area had also fled their towns in anticipation of possible invasion by aggrieved militants in the Ijaw communities .