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…Cocoa, Maize, Palm Trees, and Other Farm Produce Destroyed by Landgrabbers
BY PETER OLANIYAN
ILARO-YEWA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA -Farmers and residents from five Ilaro communities in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State have raised the alarm over increasing attacks and land encroachment by armed land grabbers.
In a petition addressed to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the people of Iweke, Idode, Koto-Obo, Ilobi-Omuwa, and Ileba expressed deep concern over what they describe as “escalating terror” on their ancestral farmlands.
The petition, made available to StarTrend Int’l by the group’s spokesperson, Pastor Oyero Olurin, painted a grim picture of the situation: “For several weeks now, these criminal elements, operating in defiance of your administration’s Anti-Land Grabbing Law and despite the efforts of our revered Paramount Ruler, His Royal Majesty Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, have continued to violently invade our lands.”
The group alleged that the invaders – armed with dangerous weapons – have been assaulting farmers, destroying decades-old crops such as cocoa and citrus, stealing livestock, and intimidating villagers with impunity.
“The scale and frequency of these attacks have reached intolerable levels”, the petition reads. “Many families – who have cultivated these lands peacefully for over 150 years – have now been displaced – their cocoa, maize, palm trees, and other farm produce destroyed by the landgrabbers.
“They live in fear, unable to tend to their farms during this crucial planting and harvesting season.”
Warning of the potential consequences if the crisis remains unchecked, the farmers said it could lead to severe food insecurity, economic collapse in the region, and possible loss of lives.
The petitioners also called out the alleged complicity of law enforcement. “We urge Your Excellency to call the Nigerian Police to order”, they wrote, accusing certain officers of interfering unlawfully in civil land matters.
They stressed that land disputes should be handled by legally recognized bodies – the courts and traditional rulers.
The farmers alleged that some land speculators, working in collaboration with land agents and legal practitioners, are leveraging the police to harass rightful landowners.
“These speculators have been filing baseless petitions that lead to the arbitrary arrest of innocent farmers. It is a deeply troubling abuse of power.”
More alarming, according to the group, is the report that some land grabbers are using police protection to illegally sell large tracts of farmland.
“They claim ancestral ownership without offering any valid documentation. Why are these claims only surfacing now, when their ancestors never contested these lands?”
In a passionate appeal, the petitioners urged Governor Abiodun to Direct security agencies to disarm and remove the invading groups; Enforce the Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law without delay; Investigate and prosecute those responsible for the attacks; Provide relief and support to displaced families and those who lost property and Establish a monitoring task force to prevent future occurrences and protect at-risk communities.
The letter concluded with a note of hope – “We trust in your leadership and commitment to justice. Your swift intervention will help restore peace, dignity, and the rule of law in our communities.”
The petition was jointly signed by concerned residents and leaders from the affected villages.
Note: Stay alert for updates on this matter, as security operatives have been accused of providing cover for the landgrabbers to sustain their siege on the farmers’ land.
