HURMA petitions Osun govt, NHRC over alleged abuses by monarch

By Suliyat Quadri

The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) has petitioned the Osun State Government, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), calling for an independent investigation into alleged human rights abuses and violence in Wakajaye community.

HURMA accused the Olu of Wakajaye, Oba Titus Adeleke, of grave criminal activities, human rights abuses and acts tantamount to crimes against an elderly blind farmer, Mr Gabriel Amusan.

According to HURMA, Amusan was violently displaced from his ancestral land and residence in a dispute allegedly sponsored and supported by the monarch.

HURMA in its petition demanded among others the immediate investigation into the monarch’s activities, the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the murder, land racketeering, and violent displacement, deployment of security personnel to protect the displaced family and monitoring of traditional rulers to prevent abuse of power.

But in his response, Oba Adeleke denied the allegations, saying he was never involved in the case and has never visited the disputed land.

He claimed the land grabbers approached him, but he refused to get involved.

The ongoing dispute, HURMA noted, has led to a dead body being discovered and the Amusan family forced to flee their home.

HURMA’s petition seeks to bring attention to the alleged abuses and ensure justice that is served.