Farmers, landowners and residents of several communities in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene in a land dispute they say has resulted in 15 months of alleged invasions, destruction of crops worth more than ₦50 million and repeated disregard for court orders.
The affected communities include Iweke, Idode, Koto-Obo, Alasa, Ilobi-Omuwa and neighbouring settlements.
The aggrieved residents have announced plans to stage a peaceful protest in Abeokuta, the state capital, to draw attention to what they described as persistent land grabbing, intimidation of rural dwellers and destruction of farmlands.
They plan to march to the Governor’s Office and the Ogun State House of Assembly to present their grievances to Abiodun and the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide.
In a statement, the farmers alleged that ancestral lands cultivated and occupied by generations of their families were being forcefully taken over by organised land-grabbing groups, popularly known as Ajagungbale.
They claimed that the alleged activities had continued despite interventions by the courts, the state government, the police and the paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Gbadewole Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro.
According to the farmers, the dispute has escalated beyond a land ownership disagreement, posing a threat to public peace, agricultural production, property rights and respect for the judicial system.
They traced the latest wave of attacks to July 2025, when more than 30 suspected land-grabbing thugs allegedly invaded farming settlements along the Ilaro–Iwoye axis, assaulted farmers, forced families away from their farms and destroyed valuable crops.
The affected plantations reportedly included cocoa, oil palm, cassava, plantain, Gmelina and teak, as well as other crops cultivated over several years.
The farmers estimated the losses from the initial invasion at more than ₦50 million, covering the value of the destroyed crops, years of investment and anticipated future earnings.
Following petitions and complaints, the state Task Force on Land Grabbing and Related Offences reportedly intervened. However, the farmers alleged that those they described as the principal sponsors of the invasions continued to evade accountability.
On 1 August 2025, representatives of the affected families petitioned the state Ministry of Justice, seeking protection and enforcement of their property rights.
They said further attention was given to the matter by the state’s anti-land-grabbing authorities the following month, but alleged attacks continued.
The farmers claimed that more than 50 suspected land-grabbing thugs returned to the affected communities on 17 March 2026, threatening residents and attempting to take possession of disputed lands through intimidation and physical force.
Officers attached to the state anti-land-grabbing operation reportedly intervened on 23 April 2026 and arrested some suspected invaders.
The complainants, however, alleged that the activities continued despite the intervention, raising concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement against individuals they believe have influential connections.
They also expressed concern over what they described as repeated disregard for judicial authority.
According to the statement, the Grade One Customary Court in Ilaro issued a restraining order on 30 March 2026, directing parties to maintain the status quo concerning the disputed property.
The farmers alleged that suspected land grabbers subsequently returned to the affected lands despite the order.
Another incident was reported at Iweke on 27 July 2026, when a bulldozer was allegedly deployed to destroy newly planted Gmelina trees and other agricultural investments.
The farmers said police officers who responded to the incident found the bulldozer in operation, leading to the arrest of a suspect while others allegedly fled.
They added that further court proceedings and documentation on 31 August 2026 reinforced their position that the restraining order and ongoing judicial process should be respected.
Questioning why the alleged invasions and destruction continued while the dispute remained before the courts, the farmers said no individual should take the law into their own hands.
“If a court orders parties to maintain the status quo, no individual, however wealthy or politically connected, should be permitted to enforce his own judgment with thugs and bulldozers,” the statement said.
The farmers also cited an alleged incident on Sunday, 4 October 2026, involving the harvesting of cocoa from disputed farmland.
They claimed that a suspect was apprehended in connection with the incident and taken to the Ilaro Police Station, where he reportedly made a written undertaking.
The residents said the incident underscored continuing insecurity around the disputed properties and called on the police to conduct an impartial investigation and make its findings public.
They further expressed disappointment over the alleged failure of key individuals involved in the dispute to honour invitations and participate fully in peace and fact-finding efforts initiated through the palace of the Olu of Ilaro.
According to the farmers, the palace intervention is intended to establish historical facts, examine competing ownership claims, prevent violence and encourage respect for the courts.
They disclosed that the palace’s fact-finding process is expected to continue on 30 October 2026, urging all parties to participate and respect the traditional institution’s efforts.
The residents, however, acknowledged that questions of legal title and the enforcement of judicial orders remain matters for the competent courts.
While commending Abiodun for establishing and supporting the state Task Force on Land Grabbing and Related Offences, as well as the state House of Assembly’s legislative efforts to strengthen protection against unlawful land acquisition, the farmers said the task force appeared to lack adequate personnel, logistics, investigative resources and enforcement capacity.
They called for an independent investigation into allegations that some police personnel had been used to intimidate lawful occupants, interfere with judicial proceedings or protect individuals accused of forcibly taking over land.
The farmers stressed that the allegations should be thoroughly investigated and that no officer should be condemned without evidence.
“The Nigeria Police Force exists to enforce the law, not to determine land ownership. Where title is disputed, the courts must decide. Where a court has issued an order, every citizen and law enforcement officer is bound to respect it,” the statement added.
The affected communities urged the Ogun State Government to address six demands: immediate protection for residents, enforcement of existing court orders, an independent investigation into alleged police involvement, stronger capacity for the state’s Land-Grabbing Task Force, investigation and prosecution of offenders where evidence supports charges, and compensation for losses alongside the restoration of affected agricultural livelihoods.
