By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

Residents of Lipetesi Agiodo in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State have staged a protest against the invasion of their farmlands by suspected land grabbers, who they claim have encroached on lands containing both food and cash crops.

The demonstrators, who gathered along the road leading to the community, expressed their frustration over the situation, warning that their patience was wearing thin.

“Our farmlands are being invaded, and we can no longer access them. Please, we don’t want conflict in our community, stop them from taking our property,” they pleaded.

A community leader, Thompson Akinyemi, speaking on behalf of the protesters, described the invasion as a form of terrorism that had persisted for over a year.

“We are calling on the government to come to our aid and save us from this act of terrorism. Our people are living in fear. Siji Festus Akinsanmi and Stella Akinbobola have taken over our farmlands, depriving us of our economic trees, including cocoa, palm trees, cashew, and kola nut,” he said.

Akinyemi asserted that the community had legal documents proving their ownership of the land but alleged that the suspected land grabbers had arrived with fake military personnel, local hunters, and thugs to enforce their claim.

“It was a rude shock when some persons (Siji Festus Ifedayo Akinsanmi and Stella Akinbobola) entered our farmlands with fake soldiers, hunters, and thugs, seizing our cash crops and economic trees,” he stated.

He added that the community had taken legal steps to address the issue, reporting the matter to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police at Zone 17.

“The land belongs to our forefathers; we are the original settlers. All those to whom our people allocated land for farming are present here today,” he said.

Kolawole Oyelami, another affected farmer, lamented that efforts to stop the alleged land grabbers had been ignored.

“We’ve asked them to stop this illegality, but they refuse to listen. When I visited my farm this week, they came and threatened to kill me.

“We are calling on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene. They know very well that the land does not belong to them, as we have the necessary documents proving ownership.

“We are law-abiding citizens of Ondo State, but our lives are now at risk. The government must take immediate steps to stop this terrorism,” he urged.

A community elder, Felix Akinwumiju, claimed that Siji Festus Akinsanmi had no ancestral ties to Lipetesi Agiodo, asserting that his father had only settled in the area in 1983 in search of a livelihood.

“Siji’s father came to this community in 1983, seeking treatment from a native doctor. My late father, Akinwumiju, offered him a house and land to farm so he could take care of his family.

“Siji’s family has no historical connection to this land, we are the original settlers of Lipetesi Agiodo. We call on Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to save us from these invaders,” he added.

A lawyer representing the community, S.A. Iluyemi, affirmed that his clients were the legitimate occupants of the disputed cocoa farmlands.

He accused Festus Ifedayo Akinsanmi, Stella Akinbobola, and others of forcefully seizing the land, entering with weapons such as guns and cutlasses, and chasing the rightful occupants away.

“Each time they arrive in large numbers and meet the farmers on their land, they threaten to kill them if they return. They also confiscate their farm produce.

“The actions of Siji, Akinbobola, and others have robbed my clients of their lawful means of livelihood, leaving them in a state of despair and hopelessness, as farming is their only source of survival,” he said.