••• Beg Aiyedatiwa to Intervene
Tension has intensified in Aponmu community in Isinkan area of Akure South local government, Ondo state as residents accuse the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, of supervising the bulldozing and clearing of their cocoa farmlands.
The community has declared that it will no longer tolerate what it describes as “persistent impunity” from the Akure palace.
Residents allege that the latest round of destruction was carried out under the protection of armed thugs and police officers who escorted bulldozers into the farmlands.
Witnesses said the presence of individuals wielding dangerous weapons created panic, forcing some residents to flee for safety.
Hon. Boladale Egunjobi, one of the affected farmers, said his plantation was among those destroyed. He traced the dispute to March 2025, when he was invited to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 17.
“Since March I have been pursuing this through lawful means,” he said. “I went to Zone 17 when invited, but despite all that, the harassment has continued. Now they have brought armed men to destroy our farms.”
Community leaders insist that the clearing of the farmlands violates the Ondo State Anti-Land Grabbing Law, which prohibits forceful land takeovers and protects vulnerable communities from illegal encroachment.
They also argue that Aponmu, being under the Isinkan Kingdom, lies outside the jurisdiction of the Deji of Akure.
Farmers warn that the ongoing destruction threatens their only source of livelihood, noting that many families depend entirely on cocoa production.
In reaction to the latest development, the people of Aponmu issued a strong statement declaring they would no longer fold their arms while their ancestral land is taken from them.
“We will not allow this impunity from the Deji’s palace to continue,” a community spokesperson said. “This land is our heritage. We will defend it peacefully and legally.”
With the land clearing still ongoing, the residents have sent an urgent appeal to the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, urging immediate intervention.
“We call on Governor Aiyedatiwa to act now, before this matter gets out of hand,” the community said. “If this continues unchecked, it may lead to a breakdown of peace. We need the state government to protect us and uphold the law.”
The Deji of Akure is believed to be relying on a 1939 court judgment to justify the palace’s actions. However, leaders of the Isinkan Kingdom insist that the ruling does not confer authority over Aponmu on the Deji, arguing instead that the judgment historically supports Isinkan ownership.
However, when contacted, the spokesman to the Deji of Akure, Mr. Michael Adeyeye, defended the palace’s actions, insisting that the lands were never permanently allocated to the farmers.
“The land in question was given to them on a temporary basis, and people who used it for farming were only allocated the land temporarily,” he said. “They were never the owners. Whenever the land is needed for housing or development projects, we notify the farmers and compensate them for whatever crops are on the land. The crops are valued, and the farmers are paid accordingly.”
Adeyeye added that some of those complaining lack proper documentation.
“Many of the farmlands were never sold to them — they were only given out for farming purposes. Several housing estates are already developing in that area,” he said.
He explained that a group of seven individuals had taken the palace to court over ownership claims, but the court ruled against them four months ago.
“They could not present a single document to prove they owned any land there,” Adeyeye noted. “They also did not appeal the judgment, and the time for appeal has already expired.”
The spokesman also said some farmers may have been deceived by fraudulent land sellers.
“One such person, a pastor from Osun State, claimed he bought land from the owners but could not provide any documents when questioned by the police,” he said.
He maintained that the palace had compensated all those with legitimate claims.
“The complaints are mostly coming from those who have no valid claim or were misled by fraudulent sellers,” he stated.
Residents say they remain hopeful that the state government will step in to stop further destruction and restore peace to the community.
