Some residents of three communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have staged a peaceful protest over non-disbursement of a N400 million relief fund approved by the state government for victims of recent violence in the area.
The protesters accused the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) of the deliberate delay in the payment of the relief fund.
Thefrontrank reports that the protesters were from Obe Nla, Obe Adun and Obe Jedo communities.
They blocked the main entrance of the OSOPADEC headquarters located in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The protesters equally prevented staff of commission from exiting the premises.
They said that their action was aimed at drawing government attention to what they described as “unjustifiable suffering” of victims months after the incident.
Thespokesperson for the protesters, Omosohanne Obadiah, said that the affected communities were attacked and houses were vandalised with residents assaulted.
Obadiah disclosed that the Ondo State government, intervened and released N400 million to the intervention agency in November 2025 to compensate verified victims, following the appeal by Ilaje Omuro Worldwide Connect to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
He however lamented that the fund had 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,” he lamented.
According to him, the delay has worsened poverty level in the communities.
He also said that the non-disbursement of the fund has eroded trust in government interventions meant to cushion the impact of the crisis.
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.
Many of the victims recounted how their attackers allegedly stormed the communities, leaving residents traumatised and homeless.
Another protester, Precilia Omogbemi, said no palliative or form of assistance had been given to victims since the incident occurred.
Another victim, Mrs. Oluwakemi, who said she lost two houses during the attacks, vowed that the protesters would not leave the premises of the commission until concrete steps were taken to address their plight.
Addressing the protesters, Abike Bayo-Ilawole, Secretary of OSOPADEC, who admitted the approval of N400 million relief fund for the victims, appealed for calm, assuring that the commission was working towards a transparent disbursement process.
“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,” Ilawole said.
