By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Indigenes of about 20 communities in Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun State, on Friday, staged a peaceful protest over the alleged forceful takeover of their farmlands by one Akinlade Lukman.

The affected communities include Odo-Igbein, Lade, Laloko, Igbo-Oya, Eriki-Awoke, Eriki-Odofin, Oruntu, Jele, Beje, Akinlegun, Amoke, Jekayinfa, Erunbe, Orile-Igbein, Orile and Mushin-Ore villages, all situated within the Orile Itori-Odo.

The protesters, who displayed placards with different inscriptions such as “Gov Abiodun, save us from land grabbers,” “We don’t want land grabbers on our ancestral land,” and “Lukman Akinlade, stop intimidating us with police,” accused Lukman Akinlade of masterminding the alleged land grabbing.

They claimed that he invaded their communities with armed personnel to intimidate and harass residents to relinquishing their ancestral farmlands.

They added that for over two months, the heavy presence of armed men on their farmlands had made life unbearable, preventing them from freely accessing their farms and nearby rivers.

Speaking with journalists, the Baale of Odo Igbein, Chief Mukaila Sodunke, lamented that the alleged forceful seizure of farmlands had brought untold hardship on the villagers.

He said, “we can no longer go to our farms or even to the river because of the armed personnel this man, Lukman Akinlade, brought to our communities.

“We are agrarian farmers and these farmlands are our only source of livelihood. How can someone just come from nowhere and take over what our forefathers left for us?”

Chief Sodunke appealed to the state government for urgent intervention, saying, “We plead with Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State House of Assembly and the Commissioner of Police to help us. We should not be treated like slaves on our own land.”

Also speaking, the Baale of Jelenke village, Chief Muraina Odelade, expressed anger over what he described as constant harassment by armed personnel.

According to him, “they just came from nowhere and started working on our farmlands with armed men. They harass us daily and threaten to arrest us and take us to Abuja.

“We can no longer farm and we are hungry. They claim the Inspector-General of Police ordered them, but we know that is not true.”

He further alleged that the armed men often arrived in unregistered vehicles and blocked access roads, adding, “sometimes, they come with as many as 12 armed policemen. They are making life unbearable for us. We cannot have a government and still have people taking laws into their hands.”

Another resident, Mr. Folorunso Temitope, also called on the state government to intervene.

He said, “we suddenly saw strangers coming with armed policemen without identification. They told us they were sent by Akinlade and began clearing our land, using about 50 workers daily to clear several acres.

“We are farmers and this situation is strange. We beg Governor Abiodun not to allow us to be cheated on our own land.”

A petition dated February 2, 2026, and signed by Kehinde Asigidi (Esq.) of His Grace Law Firm, has been submitted to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and the State Commissioner of Police, over alleged land grabbing and intimidation in parts of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The petition was filed on behalf of the Baales of several villages in the Orile Itori-Odo area, who accused Akinlade Lukmon of unlawfully invading and destroying their ancestral lands while claiming to act on the directive of the Inspector General of Police. According to the petitioners, Lukmon, accompanied by armed police officers, allegedly entered the land on December 29, 2025, and cleared over 1,000 acres, destroying crops and plantations belonging to the communities.

The Baales denied selling or consenting to the sale of the land to Lukmon or any third party, describing the actions as a clear case of land grabbing. They further alleged that the suspect has continued his activities despite complaints to the police, including threats against law enforcement officers. The communities are now calling on the state authorities for urgent investigation and intervention to safeguard lives, property, and their means of livelihood.

While reacting to the allegations, Mr. Lukman Akinlade denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he lawfully acquired about 100 hectares of land from the Ogun State government for agricultural purposes.

He said, “I am not involved in any illegality. I applied for 100 hectares of farmland, paid for it, and government land officials took me to the site. I even met with the Baale of Odo Igbein and others at a point.

“When the police were called, I presented my documents. The government has also promised to compensate anyone whose land falls within the acquired area.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Ogun State Government proved abortive, as the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, had yet to respond to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.