Key Takeaways
- The Ikangba Community in Odogbolu LGA, Ogun State, has issued a desperate appeal to Governor Dapo Abiodun for intervention.
- The community fears potential bloodshed due to persistent harassment by alleged land grabbers over their ancestral land.
- Their claim to the land is deeply rooted in history, tracing back to Oba Osundeku Oriyin, who ascended the throne in 1675.
- Despite previous interventions and warnings from the DSS and Ogun State Police, the alleged harassment and intimidation continue.
- The community seeks the governor's urgent action to ensure the rule of law prevails and to protect its members from displacement and violence.
A desperate plea has emerged from the Ikangba Community in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to swiftly intervene in a volatile dispute over their ancestral land. Community representatives, speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, warned that the relentless harassment by individuals they describe as land grabbers could tragically escalate into bloodshed if not immediately addressed.
The community's claim to the disputed territory is deeply rooted in history, tracing its lineage back centuries. Prince Adegbuyi Osun Onaneye, a direct descendant, affirmed the land's ownership by the late Oba Osundeku Oriyin, who ascended the throne in 1675. "This land in question belongs to a late Oba. He ascended the throne in 1675. That was Oba Osundeku Oriyin. We are his great-grandchildren and we princes and princesses," he stated, emphasizing the profound historical connection.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Prince Olufemi Oluleye, Secretary of the Oluweri Osundekun/Yeye-Imule family descendants of Ijebu-Ode, articulated the community's profound concern, stating that the dispute had assumed a "dangerous dimension." He highlighted fears that a failure to intervene could result in significant loss of lives. The community alleges that the individuals involved in the land grabbing have repeatedly sought to use security personnel to intimidate them and unlawfully gain possession of the property.
These allegations include the arrest and detention of two Ikangba indigenes by security agents in Abeokuta. However, following a thorough review of the matter and the presentation of compelling documentary evidence supporting the community's position, both individuals were subsequently released. Oluleye further revealed that the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), after hearing all parties and examining the circumstances, issued a stern warning to those behind the land dispute to desist from actions capable of disturbing the peace of the community.
Interventions and Continued Harassment
The Ogun State Police Command also intervened, with the Commissioner of Police inviting all parties to present their respective positions. After reviewing the evidence, the Commissioner similarly warned the alleged land grabbers to stay away from the disputed land. However, despite these clear directives from multiple security agencies, the community alleges that the harassment has not only persisted but intensified, with continuous reports of "maiming and sporadic shooting" creating an atmosphere of profound fear among its members.
"Our greatest concern now is that, despite these interventions, the harassment has continued. We have continuous reports of maiming and sporadic shooting on the land, creating an atmosphere of fear among members of the community," Oluleye lamented. The community stressed that its appeal is not an attempt to prejudge anyone or bypass legal processes, but rather a desperate call for the law to prevail and for protection against further violence and displacement.
A Call for Gubernatorial Action
The community's direct appeal to Governor Abiodun underscores the urgency of the situation. "We are appealing through the media to His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to urgently intervene before the situation degenerates further and innocent citizens lose their lives or are unlawfully dispossessed of their land," Oluleye pleaded. He emphasized that the people of Ikangba should not be made refugees on their own ancestral land, asserting that no individual, regardless of their connections, should possess the power to deploy security personnel or private agents to intimidate citizens, seize land, or threaten lives.
Why This Matters
The ongoing crisis in Ikangba underscores the critical need for swift and decisive governmental action to uphold the rule of law and protect vulnerable communities from predatory land practices. Failure to address such disputes decisively not only threatens lives and livelihoods but also erodes public trust in justice institutions and the state's capacity to maintain peace and order.