Tension is rising in the Ikale communities of Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, following allegations that private firms have encroached on their ancestral lands.
Residents of the affected areas staged a large protest, accusing the firms of intimidating legitimate landowners and forcefully taking over their property.
The demonstrators, who gathered in large numbers at the A1 and A9 areas, came from various communities including Ikale, Ago Alaye, and Agrifon. They described the actions of the companies as a blatant violation of their rights and a serious threat to their livelihoods.
The protesters, who were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions such as ‘Enough is Enough,’ ‘We Say No to Rex Intimidation,’ ‘Ikale Communities Say No to Marginalization,’ among others, chanted solidarity songs, insisting that they are fed up with the firms’ activities in the communities.
The Youth Leader of the communities, Gabriel Adeyeye, while speaking to newsmen over the development, emphasised that for the sake of harmony, the firms should respect the rights of the genuine indigenes.
Adeyeye also claimed that the companies’ actions were not only affecting their lives but also undermining the peace and stability of the community.
“For many years, we’ve been intimidated and marginalized by the people of Araromi-Obu claiming they are the illegal owners of the land. We gave them the land, they took us to court, claiming ownership of the land. On May 13, 2019, a reputable judge then in Ondo State, Justice O.O. Akeredolu, delivered a judgement affirming categorically that this land, through historical background, belongs to Ikale.”
While calling for the intervention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, community leaders, Omosebi Ikupuluy and Olawale Araromi, expressed displeasure over the companies’ actions.
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