The Adegbenla family of Gbenla compound in Ibadan north local government area of Oyo State has raised an alarm over erection of structure on the graveyards of their progenitors by some suspected land grabbers.
The family made this declaration in a save our soul petition signed by the Mogaji of Adegbenla compound, Chief Kazeem Ishola-Gbenla and addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga and Commissioner of Lands and Housing, Mr Williams -Akin-Funmilayo.
Ishola-Gbenla in the petition made available to journalists on Thursday appealed to the governor, Olubadan and the commissioners, to wade into the matter which borders on the erection of illegal structure on their ancestors’ graveyards, blockage of road leading to the family’s compound, threat to live of family members and disruption of peace and harmony within the compound by the suspected land grabbers.
The family in the statement alleged that Badmus Asimiyu Ishola who is not related to the family illegally sold the land to Sodiq Olasunkanmi Ajibola and Alhaji Ajibola who are not members of the family.
Ishola-Gbenla in the petition explained that the family has reported the matter at the Yemetu police station and the town planning office.
He maintained that the town planning has marked the structure put on the land for demolition but the land grabbers went to the land at weekend to continue the construction of the building, adding that the structure has been subsequently marked for demolition twice by town planning authority on 9th April and 30th April, 2026.
Ishola-Gbenla also disclosed that each time the members of Gbenla family on ground attempt to stop them, they said the Commissioner for Lands, Mr Akin-Funmilayo gave them the go ahead to continue with the structure even without any town planning or any form of approval from Oyo State Government.
The family also said that the suspects have continued to threaten the lives of members of the family. The family also alleged that the suspects attempted to use thugs to prevent family members and every other lawful occupants within the family compound from accessing the land. The family said that the illegal structure has blocked the road leading to the family compound.
Ishola-Gbenla in the petition on behalf of the family therefore appealed to the Olubadan, Commissioner of Police, Commissioner for Lands and Housing and other relevant stakeholders to intervene in the matter to avoid breakdown of law and order.
“We write this petition on behalf of the entire peace loving sons and daughters of Adegbenla, Gbenla Compound, Ibadan to seek the intervention of Your Imperial Majesty over the crisis the land grabbers listed above have been causing on our family land inside the family compound, Gbenla Compound, Ibadan
“We the Adegbenla are the lawful and rightful owners of the parcel of land in question as part of the inherited family compound which our forefathers left for us, and which we have taken possession as part of the family inheritance over the years.
“But recently the listed land grabbers above namely Badmus Asimiyu Ishola, Sodiq Olasunkanmi Ajibola and Alhaji Ajibola who are not members of our family and are not in anyway related to the Gbenla family illegally and forcefully entered the land with a group of persons not known to the family and began to lay claim to the property and making construction on the said parcel of land.
“They did not stop at that, they continued to threaten the lawful occupiers, attempted to take over the land illegally and forcefully using thugs to prevent our family members and every other lawful occupants within the family compound.
“Kabiyesi, the Adegbenla family of Gbenla compound is a peace loving family and we cherish the peaceful atmosphere your Imperial Majesty have been promoting in Ibadanland, which is why we therefore decide to seek your intervention on the matter to call the land grabbers to order, and stop them from all actions of theirs that may threaten the peace of the area by their illegal and unlawful invasion of the said property.
“As bonafide sons and daughters of Ibadan in Ibadanland under your Imperial jurisdiction, we are confident that your intervention will put a stop to the illegal and unlawful invasion in the interest of peace in Ibadanland which the Adegbenla is known for. We trust that as our father, you will save us from their threats and the crisis their illegal invasion may cause. Thank you.
“The case has been reported to police station, town planning. Town planning has marked the structure put on the land for demolition but they come on weekends to continue the building and each time the members of Gbenla family on ground attempt to stop them, they said the Commissioner for Lands , Mr Akin Funmilayo gave them the go ahead to continue with the structure even without any town planning or any form of approval from Oyo State Government.
“We are using this medium to call on His Excellency Engr Oluseyi Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewole Ladoja, Commissioner of Police, Oyo State and Commissioner of Lands and other in relevant stakeholders in the state to call the land grabbers to order to avoid unnecessary break down of law and order”.
But, Badmus, who admitted that he and his siblings sold the land noted that the land in question was given to his grandmother for trading activities.
Badmus while speaking in a telephone conversation with journalists on Thursday noted that he and his siblings have been using the land for long before they eventually sold it.
He said, “We are the owners of the land. The former Mogaji said we are the owners and we settled him. The land in question was given to my grandmother for trading activities. It was my grandmother that has been using it for a long time. Even my elders used it. I have been using it too”.
