Get Guardian on GoogleResidents of Iweke, Ilobi-Omuwa, Koto-Obo and Idode communities in Yewa South Local Council of Ogun State have called on the police to grant a detained resident, Seye Olatunji, immediate access to his lawyer and family, while demanding clarification on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
The communities, in a statement signed by Idowu Olayanju, said Olatunji was arrested during an early-morning operation on November 10, 2026, by men identified by residents as police officers and taken to the police headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta.
They expressed concern over the difficulties allegedly encountered by his lawyer and relatives in gaining access to him following his arrest.
According to the statement, Olatunji’s lawyer, Olusola Adenuga, said he was informed that his client would be taken to court but was not given details of the court or the proposed appearance.
The communities urged the Ogun State Police Command to clarify the allegations against Olatunji, confirm his welfare and disclose the police unit handling the investigation.
They also called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Ogun State Governor, the state Attorney-General, the Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission to intervene to ensure that due process was followed.
The demands come against the background of a protracted land dispute involving the affected farming communities. The residents alleged that the disagreement had generated insecurity and recurring concerns over access to farmland.
They said they had previously sought intervention through petitions to relevant authorities and cited a restraining order reportedly issued by the Customary Court, Ilaro, on March 27, 2026, as part of efforts to resolve the dispute.
The communities further referred to correspondence dated October 15, 2026, concerning the status of the court order, and a government forensic boundary survey reportedly conducted on October 22.
They appealed to the police to ensure that the land dispute was handled through lawful processes and that any allegations arising from it were independently investigated.
Among their demands were immediate access to Olatunji by his lawyer, reasonable access for his family, disclosure of the grounds for his arrest and the preservation of relevant custody and investigation records.
They also urged the police to release him if there was no lawful basis for his continued detention or arraign him before a competent court without delay.
The communities called on the Nigerian Bar Association and human rights organisations to monitor the situation and ensure that the rights of all parties were protected.
They said their appeal was aimed at securing transparency, protecting residents and finding a lawful resolution to the lingering land dispute.
