Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Farmers and residents of Ajogbo Akia Community in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun for urgent humanitarian relief, after suspected land grabbers allegedly destroyed farmlands and agricultural plantations that had sustained families for generations. The community, which described itself as predominantly agrarian, said the destruction has left many residents without their primary source of livelihood, plunging them into food insecurity and economic distress.
The appeal was made on Tuesday during a press conference held at the secretariat of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abeokuta. The community had earlier submitted copies of its petition to the state House of Assembly and the Governor's Office at Oke-Mosan. Addressing journalists, the Baale of Ajogbo Akia, Dr Oluwasegun Adebiyi, who was represented by the community secretary, Chief Timothy Olamide, detailed the extent of the devastation. He said crops including cassava, yam, maize and okra, as well as mature palm trees and other plantations, were allegedly destroyed. "Valuable palm trees and agricultural plantations of over 50 to 100 years have all been destroyed," Adebiyi said. "For a community whose principal source of livelihood is agriculture, this means that we have lost virtually everything we depend upon to survive".
The community leader disclosed that the alleged destruction had affected the income and food security of several families, noting that farmers who had invested time and resources in their farms were suddenly left without means of sustenance. According to the community, the suspected land grabbers invaded portions of their ancestral land, destroyed farmlands and plantations, and allegedly threatened those who attempted to resist them. The residents said the invasion had disrupted life in the once-peaceful farming community, with many families now living in fear and unable to freely access their farms. "We have existed in peace and harmony for centuries in this area. We have always held and maintained peaceful possession of our ancestral land," Adebiyi said. "Suddenly, we are experiencing devastating violence and aggression against our people. The havoc caused to my people cannot be quantified in terms of emotional pain and psychological trauma, apart from the enormous financial losses".
The community also expressed concern over reports that portions of the disputed land may have been sold to other individuals without the knowledge or consent of the community. "We have reasons to believe that part of our land has been sold to other individuals. This is deeply disturbing to us, especially as members of the community who have lived peacefully on this land for generations were never consulted," a community representative said. Adebiyi further alleged that members of the community had received threats from those behind the reported invasion. "They have allegedly made heavy and direct threats to eliminate whoever stands in their way. Our people are now living in fear. We cannot go to our farms or conduct our normal activities," he said.
According to the community, the matter had been reported to the police at the Ado-Odo Police Division. The residents noted that they were directed to submit a formal petition, which they subsequently did, but they were yet to receive further communication on the matter. "We reported the matter to the Ado-Odo Police and met with the DPO. We were asked to write a petition, and we complied. We requested that the police come to the village to see the damage firsthand. We were told that the alleged land grabbers would first be invited. Up till now, we have not heard anything further," the community alleged. Despite this, the community commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police for the public statement issued on the matter but urged the police to intensify efforts to prevent further alleged attacks and destruction. "We thank the Ogun State Commissioner of Police for their press release and want them to do more in terms of ensuring that the landgrabbers don't continue to perpetuate mayhem and dehumanisation of our people," Adebiyi said.
The community leader disclosed that the community had also instituted legal proceedings over the land dispute, stressing that the residents were committed to pursuing the matter through lawful means. He emphasised that the community was not asking the government to interfere with or prejudge the case, but to provide humanitarian assistance to affected residents while the judicial process continued. "We have lost our farms. We have lost our crops. We have lost our livelihood. We have lost virtually every means of sustaining our families. We need urgent relief. We need humanitarian assistance. We need support to rebuild our lives," Adebiyi said. "Our immediate concern is humanitarian and economic. While we seek justice over our ordeal, we need to live. We need to return to normalcy. We have taken the matter before the court because we believe in the rule of law. We will not take the law into our own hands. We simply ask that while the judicial process continues, our people should not be left without food, income and hope. Justice may take time, but hunger cannot wait".
The community therefore appealed to the Ogun State Government to provide emergency cash, food and livelihood support, agricultural inputs and assistance to enable affected farmers to return to farming. It also called for support for displaced or severely affected families and an independent assessment and documentation of the agricultural losses suffered by the community. Adebiyi appealed to Governor Abiodun and relevant government agencies to send a delegation to the community to assess the situation firsthand. "As peaceful and law-abiding citizens, we entrust our security and sovereignty to the government. We are appealing for protection of our lives and property and for urgent intervention before there is a total breakdown of law and order," the community said.
The plight of Ajogbo Akia is not isolated. In recent weeks, other communities across Ogun State have raised similar alarms over land grabbing and the destruction of farmlands. Residents of Ikangba, Agoro, Imodi and Imosan in Odogbolu Local Government Area have protested for the second time in less than a month, alleging that land grabbers used bulldozers to destroy buildings and farmlands while intimidating residents. The communities have appealed to both Governor Abiodun and President Bola Tinubu to intervene. The Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Olarewaju Ogungbade, SAN, is set to conduct an independent enquiry into the land dispute rocking the Ikangba community. However, residents have reported that bulldozers allegedly returned to the disputed areas after meetings with community leaders, destroying farmlands and structures despite a directive from the Commissioner of Police to maintain the status quo.
For the people of Ajogbo Akia, the destruction of their farms is not just a loss of property—it is an existential crisis. Their appeal to Governor Abiodun is a desperate cry for help from a community that has lost everything. As they await the government's response, their message remains clear: justice may take time, but hunger cannot wait.
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