Angry residents protest alleged land grabbing in Ondo community

Angry residents of the Aponmu community in the Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State have urgently requested Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in a reported land-grabbing situation involving certain "influential individuals" within the State.

The residents, primarily farmers, gathered at the Governor’s Office in Akure on Monday, expressing their distress that their agricultural lands, covering more than 1,000 hectares, have been seized by land grabbers allegedly supported by some government officials.

Holding placards with messages such as "Mr. Governor, Please Save Our Souls," "We Can’t Pay Our Children’s School Fees," and "Powerful People Have Taken Over Our Cocoa Farms," the demonstrators accused the intruders of ruining their cocoa plantations and displacing local farmers.

Addressing the crowd on behalf of the protesters, community leader Pastor Tope Akinkuade cautioned that a breakdown of law and order could occur if the government does not respond promptly.

"Aponmu is a diverse community that has welcomed individuals from all over Nigeria for over a century, most of whom are engaged in cocoa farming.

“Our cocoa farms – our only source of livelihood – are being destroyed by these land grabbers who invade with armed men, clear farmlands with bulldozers, and sell them off with impunity,” Akinkuade.

He claimed that numerous farmers had faced harassment, arrest, and detention after opposing the invaders, referencing the murder of a community leader, Emmanuel Ogboriefon, and the devastation of plantations owned by another farmer, Charles Akinrolayo, who was detained following his protest against the invasion.

Akinkuade characterized cocoa farming as "the essential foundation of Ondo State’s economy," expressing concern that the ongoing devastation of their agricultural lands had plunged families into distress and resulted in considerable revenue losses for the state.

He disclosed that the community had reached out to Governor Aiyedatiwa on October 17, 2025, to inform him of the land grabbers' activities, yet the situation had deteriorated despite their appeal.

He stated that although the State Government had previously intervened to halt the assaults, the invasion recommenced in mid-October when surveyors and bulldozers, accompanied by armed police officers, returned to clear additional farmlands.

"On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the bulldozers reappeared, protected by police officers. When the villagers confronted them, the police momentarily withdrew, only to return later, asserting they were acting under some authority," he remarked.

Akinkuade urged Aiyedatiwa to take prompt action to avert chaos, indicating that the community's patience was waning.

Bola Taiwo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters, encouraged the protesters to maintain their composure, assuring them that the government would address their concerns.

Taiwo recommended that the community direct their complaints through the proper channels, assuring them that Governor Aiyedatiwa would facilitate a peaceful and equitable resolution.

He praised the protesters for their peaceful conduct and reaffirmed the government’s dedication to safeguarding lives, property, and investments throughout the state.

Last December, the Ondo House of Assembly marked a significant legislative achievement with the enactment of the Bill to Prohibit Forceful Entry and Illegal Occupation of Landed Properties in Ondo State.