The Asipa Olubadan Designate, His Royal Highness, Oba Amidu Ajibade, has warned individuals involved in illegal land acquisition across Ibadanland, declaring that the era of land grabbing is over.
Oba Amidu Ajibade gave the warning while speaking with journalists when addressing protesters who stormed his residence to seek justice for encroachment on their land by land grabbers.
He emphasized that neither he nor the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, supports the activities of land grabbers, adding that strong measures will be taken to curb the menace.
“The truth of the matter is that we don’t want the activities of these land grabbers again in our state as we are not in support of such,” he said.
High Chief Ajibade reiterated that the traditional leadership under the Olubadan of Ibadanland stands firmly against such unlawful practices.
He further warned that anyone attempting to illegally take over land would be met with resistance.
“What we are saying is that we will wage war against land grabbers. How can one claim a land that does not belong to him? So, for this reason, they should go and find another job to do because they won’t thrive on this land grabbing in this dispensation”.
Speaking with one of the protesters, a descendant of the Onifade Ogunkanmi lineage of the Lafiku dynasty, Akogun Saheed Olawoyi, accused a deposed Baale of the Oyetunde Family, Jelili Oyetunde, of encroaching on ancestral land of over 50 villages.
Jelili Oyetunde, who was deposed by the former Olubadan of Ibadanland,
was alleged by Akogun Saheed Olawoyi to have laid claim to multiple villages along the Olojuoro-Olomi axis in Oluyole Local government Area, despite having previously sold his own family village in Eleta to a private individual.
“About six years ago, the so-called Jelili Oyetunde, who happens to be a deposed Baale from the Oyetunde Family in Eleta, began disturbing over villages under the Lafiku Dynasty,” Olawoyin stated.
He further clarified that these villages have existed peacefully for over 400 years, with each family settled and identified by their own ancestral name not linked to the Oyetunde lineage.
“They claim to have a judgement from a case between Oyetunde versus Oke, but Oke was from the Jalaruru family, not from our Lafiku line. We are not Oke family, which is very sacrosanct,” he emphasized.
Akogun Olawoyin questioned the legitimacy of Oyetunde’s claims, noting that the land in question is outside their ancestral boundaries and any judgement obtained does not apply to the Lafiku lands.
According to him, the activities of Jelili Oyetunde have allegedly been supported by Mogaji Adenrele Salami and security concerns have escalated with the reported presence of the OPC (Oodua People’s Congress) allegedly affiliated with Gani Adams.
He also revealed that a few weeks ago, operatives from the SWAT unit of the Nigeria Police Abuja under CP Abimbola A. Olugbenga, stormed the area in two buses, with intention of arresting the Baale and other key members of the family with the frivolous petition as usual from jelili oyetunde and family, and detained two residents of the Osundeyi Village, a father and his son, taking them to Abuja even when there is an annex of fcid in lagos.
“We have written several petitions, but when we get to the police station, he is released. We are law abiding citizens, and we don’t want to take the law into our own hands,” he lamented.
Calling on the Oyo State Government, Olawoyin requested immediate intervention, including the establishment of a police or Amotekun division in the area to protect lives and property.
“We are too far from Sanyo Police station, we need a security presence here so our people can sleep with their two eyes closed, ” he said.
He also made passionate appeal to the newly crowned Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, noting his track record as a former senator, Governor, and businessman who stands firmly against land grabbing and corruption.
“We ask our new Olubadan to support us through legal means to chase away these intruders so peace can return to our villages,” he said.
Speaking with one of the Village heads affected, Baale of Lafiku, Chief Yusuf Alimi, he equally alleged Jelili Oyetunde of land grabbing, and violence orchestrated by the deposed Baale.
He explained that Lafiku community enjoyed peace and unity until 2019 when illegal activities of Jelili Oyetunde allegedly began to stir unrest in the area.
The traditional ruler accused Oyetunde of forcefully taking over lands, harassing residents, and commiting acts of violence, including assault and intimidation.
“He was causing chaos everywhere and started grabbing land belonging to other residents. He beat some, took some to the police station with false allegations, and even attacked others with a Cutlass just to collect their land,” the Baale recounted.
The Baale said community leaders and residents are now forced to raise their voices publicly, as they lack the manpower or influence to confront the issue physically.
“We don’t have thugs or anyone to fight for us except the government.That’s why we’ve come together to amplify our grievances, hoping for a peaceful resolution,” he explained.
He further alleged that Jelili Oyetunde has repeatedly refused to appear during peace talks or police-mediated interviews, choosing instead to go into hiding whenever summoned.
As a result of the ongoing crisis, Baale Lafiku revealed that some residents have already fled the community out of fear for their safety.
He also appealed to the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to intervene and restore order.
“We are appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to Wade into this crisis because some residents have already left the community and run for dear lives,” he said.
Another victim of Jelili Oyetunde’s alleged intimidation, the Landlord Chairman of Onifade community, Saheed Adekunle Olapade, alleged that Oyetunde and his supporters have laid claim to land in the area and forcibly demolished a shop built by community members at a junction, despite an earlier court ruling in their favor.
“They claimed they are the owners of the land and they built a shop at the junction. But they demolished the shop before we even got to the station,” he said.
According to him, the matter had previously escalated to legal proceedings, during which he and others were taken to the Magistrate Court in Iyaganku and later demanded at the Abolongo Correctional Facility in Oyo
“Eventually, we were taken to Magistrate Court at Iyaganku and, from there, moved to Abolongo Correctional Facility. The ruling of the court favoured us,” Olapade explained.
However, despite the court’s decision, tension reignited on Monday, when Oyetyand his group allegedly returned to the community, resuming their claims and confrontations.
The village head of another neighbouring community, Chief Moruf Olaigbe, who is the Baale Okeseyin, explained that these alleged land grabbers have resorted to violence, injuring residents and casting fear among community members.
Expressing the community’s desire for peace, he stressed that the people do not want conflict or bloodshed and are therefore turning to authorities for support.
He also appealed to new Olubadan of Ibadanland to take swift action in addressing the issue and protecting the people of Oluyole from further attacks.
The latest allegations add to growing list of complaints from residents in Ibadanland on issues of land grabbing and using intimidation tactics to assert control over disputed properties by land grabbers in the state.
