By Ireti Asemota.
Hundreds of aggrieved farmers from five communities in Ondo East Local Government Area stormed the Governor’s Office in Akure on Tuesday, protesting the alleged illegal detention of two traditional rulers and the forceful seizure of their ancestral lands by a notorious land grabber. 🚜🇳🇬
The protesters—from Italemikan, Abusoro, Ateru, Igbomowo, and Uloko Agbonden—waved placards reading “Free Our Obas Now,” “We Say No to Land Grabbing,” and “We Want Justice for Our Communities.”
Spokesperson Kokuma Isaac Akinwande accused one Ojo Ajisafe of masterminding the crisis, claiming he deploys police and armed thugs to arrest and intimidate anyone challenging his encroachment.
“He came claiming his father owns everything from Itaila to Oboto—we’ve never seen him before. Anytime we question him, police arrest us and rush us to court for remand,” Akinwande said.
The two detained monarchs—the Olu of Igba, Oba Shina Olayele, and the Olu of Uloko Agbonden, HRH Moses Awonusi Apalara—were allegedly framed and remanded in prison for refusing to cede community lands.
“Our Obas are in prison simply because they defended our land,” he added, appealing to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for urgent intervention.
Another protester, Ajibola, revealed prior petitions to the governor, Chief Judge, and House Speaker went unanswered. “We came peacefully to avoid violence—we just want justice and our kings released.”
The farmers demanded a full probe into Ajisafe’s activities and alleged police complicity.
An official from the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the government is aware and assured quick resolution, with communities invited for dialogue.
Land grabbing remains a hot-button issue in Ondo, with the state government previously vowing jail for culpable traditional rulers and signing anti-grabbing measures. Similar protests have rocked other areas recently.
Online reactions are building, with calls for swift justice to prevent escalation.
#OndoProtest #LandGrabbing #FreeOurObas #OjoAjisafe #OndoEast #FarmersProtest #ObaShinaOlayele #MosesAwonusiApalara #JusticeForCommunities #NaijaNews #OndoState 🇳🇬⚖️🚨
