HISTORY OF ILARA YEWA.
ILARA Yewa, a main Border town in Imeko-Afon LG area Ogun State, a town with two Countries, a gateway town to Imeko-Afon local Government, to Ogun State and to Nigeria, Ilara is located about 91 kilometers North-West of Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State. A town laid on the latitude 72 25°N and Longitude 24 50°E. It geographical stands on the 600 feels (i.e. 183 meters) above the sea level.
ILARA is an offshoot community of Ketu, a town situated in the present day Benin Republic. History has it that, Ketu people migrated from ILE-IFE under the leadership of the first son of Odua/Oduduwa(Alaketu) to found the Ketu Kingdom. Odua was the progenitor of the Yoruba race. It was this Alaketu who inherited the Crown of their father- Oduduwa after his death. He came with the crown to found Ketu Kingdom.
The original settlers of Ilara migrated together with Alaketu from Ile-Ife and settled at Ketu. These people are from Ilemu quarters in Ile-Ife. According to history, there people are brave hunters. These people under the leadership of Baba Obosu, Aduitan, Ogbe and Dosunmu to mention but a few let ketu in search of wild-life viz, Antelopes, Elephants and the likes. On getting to the forest they killed an Eliephant as they rip open the stomach of the Elephant they found “Ose Sango and Edun Aara” They were amazed and as well afraid of the turn of events as such they consulted IFA the oracle who told them not to eat the Elephant but buried it and settled in the place. The Elephant was buried in the forest and they called the name of the place Ogudo and the forest was called Igbo-Ogudo (Ibiti Ogun ni ki ndo abi Tedo) ----- meaning : the place where ogun(god of iron)said I should settle. ->