Residents of the Irese community in Ondo State on Friday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as the alleged encroachment on their ancestral land by agents acting under the authority of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.
The protesters, comprising community leaders, youths and farmers, converged on the disputed land area, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs. They insisted that the land belongs historically to Irese in Ifedore Local Government Area — not Akure.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the Onirese of Irese, Oba Saka Ahmed Desire, reaffirmed that the community had existed for generations and remains under Ifedore jurisdiction.
He accused representatives of the Akure monarchy of entering the land without consultation, marking boundaries and laying claim to farmlands long cultivated by Irese indigenes.
Oba Saka warned that the continued encroachment poses a serious threat to peace between the neighbouring communities if not addressed promptly.
Several protesters who spoke with newsmen lamented that many families rely on the disputed land for farming and survival.
They said losing it would worsen economic hardship in the community, especially during a period of increasing cost of living.
The residents called on the Ondo State Government to intervene urgently and prevent the situation from escalating into a broader conflict.
Community leaders also emphasized that the protest was peaceful and aimed at drawing government attention to what they described as an injustice.
They appealed for an independent and thorough investigation into the true ownership of the land, urging authorities to rely on historical records, boundary documents and previous agreements.
As at the time of filing this report, the palace of the Deji of Akure had not issued any official response to the allegations.
The protesters maintained that they would continue to pursue lawful and peaceful means to defend their ancestral heritage while urging all parties to exercise restraint to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
