Ondo farmers protest farmland invasion, seek govt intervention

By Boye Oyeyemi –

Residents of the Aponmu community in the Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday took to the streets to protest the alleged invasion of their farmlands by encroachers.

The protesters, led by Mr Tope Akinkuade, carried placards with various inscriptions as they marched through the community to express their anger over what they described as persistent intimidation and unlawful occupation of their lands.

Mr Akinkuade said the community had endured years of harassment and violent attacks from individuals allegedly claiming to act under the authority of a traditional institution.

He warned that the situation could escalate into open confrontation if urgent steps were not taken by the government to address it.

He lamented that several farmers had been harassed, arrested, and detained unjustly for standing up against the invaders, noting that some victims had lost their livelihoods while others now live in fear.

He appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene swiftly to prevent the crisis from spiralling out of control, stressing that the people’s patience was being stretched to the limit.

Addressing the protesters, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, urged the farmers to remain calm, assuring them that the government would look into their complaints and ensure justice is done.

Security operatives were also seen on the ground to maintain order as the protest continued peacefully.