Idanre Residents Lament Alleged Land Seizure by Deji of Akure Seek Ondo Govs Intervention

Idanre Residents Lament Alleged Land Seizure by Deji of Akure Seek Ondo Govs Intervention

Residents of several communities in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised the alarm over what they described as a growing threat to their ancestral lands accusing the Deji of Akure Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi Odundun II of attempting to seize and sell lands allegedly located outside his traditional jurisdiction.

The aggrieved residents comprising farmers landowners and community leaders said the alleged encroachment often disguised as land acquisition has begun to disrupt farming activities threaten livelihoods and heighten security concerns across the affected communities

They are now calling on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently intervene and protect Idanre territory from what they termed Akures expansionist moves Similar concerns have also been raised by neighbouring communities including Owena and Olokuta where residents have reported related boundary disputes

Tensions escalated on Tuesday when residents of Ijomu community in Akure South Local Government Area staged a protest on the disputed land decrying what they described as an alleged land grabbing attempt by powerful individuals within the state

Speaking at the protest ground Claudius Ademetoye the Olu of Onipanu insisted that the land in question does not fall under Akures jurisdiction

This land is not Akure land It is completely outside the Deji’s jurisdiction We are the rightful owners and we have valid Certificates of Occupancy to prove our ownership Yet attempts are being made to sell what does not belong to Akure he said

He added that the continued interference is threatening the peace and economic stability of the host communities

Corroborating this position Adeyemi Babatola Bajulaye the Olu of Aponmu said the disputed lands were inherited from their forefathers and form the historical foundation of their communities

These lands were bequeathed to us by our ancestors They are our heritage our identity and our means of survival No authority can legitimately take what our forefathers handed down to us Bajulaye stated

Residents warned that failure of the government to act swiftly could lead to serious conflict as the communities are determined to defend what they described as their ancestral heritage and economic lifeline

Deji of Akure