Ondo State police have apprehended Adekolajo Aladeseyi and four other chiefs for allegedly conducting an unauthorized installation ceremony to crown Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area.
The arrest followed a state government directive after the group reportedly staged the illegal coronation on April 17, 2025. Aladeseyi was reportedly undergoing a 30-day traditional rite before authorities intervened.
Commissioner of Police Olutokunbo Afolabi confirmed the arrests, stating the installation violated due process and lacked approval from both local and state governments. “This action was necessary to prevent communal crisis,” Afolabi noted, adding that all suspects would face prosecution.
The Olujare throne has remained vacant since the passing of Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun four years ago. Some kingmakers had earlier rejected Aladeseyi’s selection, labeling the process illegitimate.
The arrests highlight ongoing tensions in traditional succession disputes across Nigeria, where unauthorized installations sometimes trigger violent conflicts. Authorities have transferred the case to court as they work to maintain peace in the Ijare community.
