…Matter’ll soon be resolved— Govt official
By Dayo Johnson
Akure —Aggrieved farmers from five communities in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested the alleged illegal detention of two traditional rulers and the forceful takeover of their ancestral lands.
The protesters, who stormed the Governor’s Office, came from Italemikan, Abusoro, Ateru, Igbomowo and Uloko Agbonden communities.
They placards with inscriptions such as “Free Our Obas Now”, “We Say No to Land Grabbing,” and “We Want Justice for Our Communities.”
Their spokesperson, Mr. Kokuma Akinwande, alleged that they have been using police and armed men to intimidate residents and arrest those who challenged them of encroaching on their land.
Akinwande said the two 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 custody through the influence of the said land grabber.
According to him, “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,” he added.
Akinwande further alleged that the two monarchs were unlawfully arrested and remanded after refusing to cede community lands.
“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.”
He, however, appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the state to intervene and free them.
Another protester, Ajibola, said the communities had earlier written petitions to the governor, the Chief Judge, and the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly without getting any response.
Akinola 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 urged the state government to probe the alleged land grabbing and harassment by the suspect and his backers.
Contacted for comment, a official of the Ministry Agriculture said the matter had been brought to the knowledge of the government.
He assured that the matter would soon be resolved.
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