Ogun communities seek Tinubu, Abiodun’s intervention over alleged land grabbing

Residents of Ikangba, Agoro, Imodi, Imosan and neighbouring communities in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and the Inspector-General of Police to intervene over alleged land grabbing, warning that the situation could trigger a communal crisis if left unresolved.

The residents staged a peaceful protest on Monday, alleging that suspected land grabbers, accompanied by security operatives, had invaded their communities with bulldozers to demolish buildings, destroy farmlands, and intimidate property owners.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Gov Dapo Abiodun, save us from land grabbers,” “President Bola Tinubu, rescue us from land grabbers,” “Ogun State Assembly, please save us from land grabbers,” and “We call on IGP Tunji Disu and DSS to protect residents of Ikangba, Imodi, Agoro and Imosan from land grabbers,” the protesters called for urgent government intervention.

Speaking during the protest, Comrade John Nicholas Eko, a resident and Ogun State Coordinator of the Campaign for Workers and Democratic Rights, said the demonstration was organised to draw attention to what he described as attempts to displace more than 500,000 residents from their ancestral lands.

According to him, the alleged land grabbers had been using security operatives to intimidate residents while demolishing homes, farms and other property.

“We are here today to protest against the activities of land grabbers attempting to take over the communities of Ikangba, Agoro, Imodi and Imosan. Together, these communities are home to more than 500,000 residents.

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“These land grabbers are attempting to drive people away from their ancestral lands. They are collaborating with certain security operatives who accompany them whenever they come with bulldozers used to destroy farms, crops, buildings, and other property.

“Residents have also been subjected to intimidation, harassment, extortion and various forms of abuse. We are saying enough is enough,” Eko said.

He appealed to President Tinubu and Governor Abiodun to ensure the enforcement of the Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law, stressing that the government had consistently maintained a zero-tolerance stance against land grabbing.

A community leader in Ikangba, Professor Gafar Ayodeji, alleged that previous engagements with the police and other stakeholders had failed to halt the activities of the suspected land grabbers.

He lamented that despite the enactment of the Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law in 2016, the alleged invaders continued to enter the communities with heavy equipment to demolish buildings, destroy crops and level building foundations.

“We have organised this protest because we do not want anyone to take the law into their own hands. We are asking the government to act before the situation escalates,” he said.

“These land grabbers are not our community leaders. They are not Baales or Olori-Ituns. We do not know them. If they have any grievances, they should seek legal redress in court or engage with the recognised Baales and Olori-Ituns of the affected communities,” he added.

The Baale of Ikangba, High Chief Joseph S. Adebanjo, a retired Nigerian Army officer, also alleged that the suspected land grabbers had deployed bulldozers and graders to destroy buildings, farms and other property while laying claim to the land.

“We reported these incidents to the police, but no meaningful action was taken. Instead, we witnessed some security operatives accompanying those carrying out these activities. It is difficult to understand why law enforcement officers would provide protection to individuals accused of invading another community,” Adebanjo said.

He warned that continued destruction of property could provoke unrest if urgent action was not taken.

“We do not want to take the law into our own hands. That is why we are making this public appeal and asking the government to intervene promptly,” he added.