For the second time in less than a month, residents of Ikangba, Agoro, Imodi and Imosan communities in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State on Friday took to the streets to protest the alleged activities of land grabbers in the communities.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as, “Gov Dapo Abiodun, deliver us from land grabbers”; “Land grabbers, keep off, our ancestral land is not for sale”; “Police, DSS, come to our rescue”; and “Gov Abiodun, President Tinubu, rise and protect us from land grabbers,” among others.

The residents accused the alleged land grabbers of bringing bulldozers into their communities to destroy buildings and farmlands, while intimidating and harassing residents who confronted them.

They also alleged that some of the individuals involved sometimes operated under the escort of security personnel.

The communities, however, debunked media reports alleging that the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Sikiru Okuribido, was behind the alleged activities, describing the reports as false.

They said the traditional ruler hailed from one of the affected communities and had supported their efforts to resist the alleged land grabbers.

The residents said that despite the recent intervention of the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, the alleged land grabbers had continued their activities.

They urged the government to take decisive action to prevent the situation from escalating into a crisis.

The communities also described those claiming to be indigenes of the affected areas as impostors, alleging that they had no roots in any of the communities.

They therefore called on the police, Department of State Services and the state government to conduct an impartial investigation into the activities of the alleged land grabbers, warning that the situation was already threatening the peace of the communities.

Speaking at a press briefing held on Friday after the protest at the residence of the Baale of Ikangba,  Professor Ayodeji Gafar said the communities found it “absolutely disgusting and unfair” that a recent online publication alleged that Oba Okuribido was behind the land grabbers.

He said the report was part of an attempt by the alleged land grabbers to mislead the government and members of the public.

Gafar said, “We strongly object to the impression created by the publication that the traditional institution of Idowa is responsible for the land-related crisis in our communities.”

He also questioned the identities of the individuals presented in the publication as representatives of Ikangba, claiming that they were not recognised as established indigenes or longstanding residents of the area.

Gafar said, “This is not a call for confrontation. It is a legitimate demand for transparency, particularly where serious allegations concerning ancestral land and community ownership are being made.”

The communities urged the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force and other relevant authorities to investigate all parties to the dispute and establish their identities, documentary evidence and legal basis for their claims.

“There should be no sacred cows. If anyone has a genuine claim, let the claim be tested through the appropriate legal and administrative processes,” the communities said.

Gafar said the communities were forced to take to the streets again because, despite an order by the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, directing both parties to maintain the status quo, the alleged land grabbers had returned to the communities with bulldozers and were destroying residents’ properties.

He said, “We are aware of meetings held by the Commissioner of Police with the Baales and community heads of the four affected communities.

“At those meetings, the parties were directed to maintain the status quo pending proper resolution of the dispute. We therefore find it disturbing that, according to reports from residents, after some of these meetings, bulldozers allegedly returned to the disputed areas to continue clearing farmlands and physical structures.

“There were also complaints concerning the presence of unidentified persons, including persons allegedly associated with unmarked security patrol vehicles, as well as individuals reportedly carrying guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

“These allegations should not be dismissed by anybody. They should be investigated and either established or disproved.”

The communities called on the state government to direct a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the activities of the alleged land grabbers, with a view to ensuring justice and preserving the peace and tranquillity in and around the communities.

Gafar said, “Let the government establish the historical ownership, present claims, documentary evidence, court judgments, boundaries and activities of all parties concerning the affected areas.

“We also appeal to the government to protect the peace of Ikangba, Imodi, Imosan and Agoro and prevent the dispute from escalating into a security crisis.”

Also speaking at the event, the Baale of Ikangba, Chief Joseph Adebanjo; Chief Adeniyi Oduneye, the Alase Yemule of Ikangba; Alhaji Surajudeen Raji, representing the Baale of Agoro; and Chief Olusesi Isiaka, representing the Baale of Imodi, condemned the alleged activities of the land grabbers.

They called on Governor Dapo Abiodun, President Bola Tinubu, the DSS and the police to launch an impartial investigation into the allegations before the situation degenerated into a full-blown communal crisis.