Farmers from five communities in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State staged a protest at the Governor’s Office, demanding the release of two traditional rulers allegedly detained over a land dispute.
The protesters, who came from Italemikan, Abusoro, Ateru, Igbomowo, and Uloko Agbonden, carried placards bearing messages such as “Free Our Obas Now,” “We Say No to Land Grabbing,” and “We Want Justice for Our Communities.”
Their spokesperson, Mr. Kokuma Akinwande, accused authorities of using police and armed personnel to intimidate residents who opposed encroachment on their ancestral lands.
Akinwande alleged that the detained monarchs, the Olu of Igba community, Oba Shina Olayeleb, and the Olu of Uloko Agbonden, HRH Moses Apalara, were “framed” and remanded in prison through the influence of a land grabber.
He said, “We are here because of a notorious land grabber. He came to our land claiming his father owns everything from Ita Ila to Oboto, we have never seen him before. Anytime we question him, he brings police to arrest us. They take us to court the next day and send us to prison. He’s using force to intimidate us.”
Akinwande added, “Our two Obas, the Olu of Igba, Shina Olayele, and the Olu of Uloko Agbonden, HRH Moses Apalara, are now in prison because they defended our land.”
Another protester, Ajibola, revealed that the communities had previously sent petitions to the governor, the Chief Judge, and the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, but received no response.
He said, “We don’t want violence or crisis in our land. That is why we came peacefully to seek government intervention. We just want justice and for our traditional rulers to be released.”
The protesters called on the state government to investigate the alleged land grabbing and harassment by the suspect and his supporters.
When contacted, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the matter had been brought to the government’s attention and assured that it would soon be resolved.
