The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed reports that the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland in Ijebu-Ode was besieged by suspected thugs, amid the lingering dispute over the administration of the traditional affairs of the kingdom.
The command said its personnel were deployed to the palace as a preventive security measure to maintain law and order, protect lives and property and prevent a breakdown of public peace.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said an Assistant Commissioner of Police was also deployed to supervise the security arrangement and ensure effective coordination.
The police clarification followed reports that Chief Adebisi Adaran, popularly known as Gbenden, had been arrested in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday amid the disagreement over the administration of Ijebuland during the interregnum.
The command, however, explained that Adaran was invited following a written petition containing allegations against him.
He honoured the invitation, was questioned and subsequently released on self-recognisance, while investigations continued.
“The Command wishes to state unequivocally that the deployment of its personnel to the palace was strictly a preventive security measure aimed at maintaining law and order, safeguarding lives and property, and forestalling any breakdown of public peace,” the statement read.
The police added that Adaran’s invitation should not be interpreted as an indication of guilt, stressing that it was part of a legitimate investigative process.
The development comes amid a prolonged dispute over who should oversee the traditional and administrative affairs of Ijebuland following the death of the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, in July 2025 after 65 years on the throne.
The Ogun State Government had suspended the process of selecting his successor in January 2026, citing petitions, security concerns and the need to protect the integrity of the traditional stool.
The disagreement later escalated over the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC), established by the state government to oversee the kingdom’s affairs pending the appointment of a new monarch.
Some Ijebu chiefs subsequently announced the formation of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council, challenging the authority of the government-backed administrative arrangement.
The dispute has also moved to the courts, with the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council filing a suit against Governor Dapo Abiodun and other government officials, challenging the reconstitution of the interregnum administrative council.
Reiterating its position, the police command said its officers remained committed to professionalism and impartiality in carrying out their responsibilities.
“The Police remain professional and impartial in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities, guided by the rule of law and respect for the rights of all individuals,” the statement added.
The command urged residents to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information capable of generating tension, reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property across Ogun State.
