Three persons are currently in the police net for allegedly poisoning the stream serving as drinking water for the people of Aponmu-Lona community in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
One of the suspects, Odefila Philips, was caught in the act by the people of the community and was instantly arrested by the people and handed over to the police.
Subsequently, two other suspects were arrested by the police and are currently in the custody of the Idanre Police Division.
Narrating the incident to journalists on Friday in Akure, the state capital, the traditional head of the community, Chief Babalola Bolujare, the Olu of Aponmu-Lona, disclosed that the community is currently in a tussle with some hoodlums who invaded their community and destroyed the tree crops.
He said the community had petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the Department of Security (DSS) over the invasion.
According to Chief Bolujare, the Inspector General of Police had since ordered an investigation into the invasion by the armed gang.
He said that while the investigation is still ongoing, someone named Odefila Philips was caught poisoning the water being drunk by the people of the community.
The residents instantly arrested him and handed him over to the police for proper investigation into why he poisoned the water.
He explained that in the course of interrogation, Odefila Philips confessed to the police that he’s an agent to one engineer, who had earlier invaded the community.
Through his confession, two other accomplices have been arrested by the police.
The Olu of Aponmu-Lona, therefore, called on the police to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of the culprit.
“We have petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the invasion of our community by some armed thugs who destroyed our cocoa plantations and other crops.
“They claimed that the land belongs to the person who sent them.
“But while the investigation into the invasion is still going on, some persons went to poison the stream that we are drinking in our community.
“Thank God that they sighted them when they were poisoning the water and one of them was arrested by the people of our community.
“They contacted the police, and he was handed over to the police for investigation.
“The police have arrested two other accomplices of the culprit.
“We are calling on the Inspector General of Police to help us out by ensuring proper investigation into this incident and prosecution of the culprits.
“He should ensure this matter is not swept under the carpet,” Chief Bolujare said.
In a petition dated March 11, 2026, filed by Ogunleye & Ogunleye (His Mercy & Chambers) on behalf of Chief Bolujare and others, entitled: “Re: Urgent Call To Avert Looming Communal Warfare Between Akure And Idanre Communities , Flagrant Criminal Contempt Of Court And Malicious Destruction Of Economic Crops,” and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the petitioners requested for quick intervention to prevent break down of laws and order between the two communities.
The petition reads in parts: “Our clients hereby humbly pray to your esteemed office to quickly and earnestly act to prevent and avert the possible breakdown of law and order between the two communities.
“Ondo State and Nigeria at large cannot afford a repeat of the Ife/Modakeke communal uprising at this very time when banditry is ravaging the nation.”
Reacting to the incident, Spokesman to the Police Command in the state, Abayomi Jimoh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the command was aware of the arrest of one person over the alleged plan to poison the community water and has begun an investigation.
But he couldn’t confirm the actual number of people arrested in connection with the incident.
[Independent]