The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), has given the reason for the recent attacks on Obe-Nla, Obe-Adun and Obe-Jedo communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state by the security operatives.
OSOPADEC made the clarification in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Godson Ewata, in Akure on Friday.
Thefrontrank reports that some residents of the three communities had on Thursday staged a peaceful protest over non-disbursement of a N400 million relief fund approved by the state government for the victims of the attacks.
The protesters accused the OSOPADEC leadership for deliberately delaying the payment of the relief fund to the victims.
Thefrontrank reports that the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, hails from Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community and one of the communities attacked by the security operatives over the illegal bunkering activities.
Clarifying the stance of the commission, Ewata explained that the October 18, 2025, attacks on Obe-Nla, Obe-Adun and Obe-Jedo communities by security operatives were as a result of the discovery of illegal bunkering activities in the communities.
“On 18th October, 2025, security operatives conducted an operation in Obe-Nla, Obe-Adun and Obe-Jedo communities following the discovery of illegal bunkering activities.
“During the operation, some structures were damaged, and a number of residents sustained injuries when suspects resisted lawful arrest,” he stated.
Ewata further explained that as a result of the attacks on the illegal bunkering, OSOPADEC board, led by its Chairman, Prince Biyi Poroye, visited the affected communities to “express solidarity”, assess the situation first-hand, and appeal for calm.
“The Board also engaged with the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote peace,” he added.
He disclosed that following extensive consultations, the commission sought and obtained the approval of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on January 7, 2026 to provide humanitarian palliatives to the affected communities.
Ewata reminded the affected communities that “the intervention undertaken by the commission’s chairman was purely humanitarian, despite the fact that the original incident arose from illegal activities. His personal appeal to the government made the relief effort possible.”
The spokesperson for the commission said a nine-member implementation committee had been constituted to assess damages and oversee the equitable distribution of the approved humanitarian palliatives.
He, however, accused the leader of the protesters of demanding that “the funds be released directly to him.”
