Farmers in Ilaro, Ogun State, have raised the alarm over renewed land-grabbing activities that threaten livelihoods and food security in the region.
Villages affected include Iweke, Idode, Koto-Obo, Abule Amusa, and Ilobi-Omuwa, where armed thugs in large numbers allegedly invaded farmlands, assaulted farmers, and bulldozed crops worth several millions of naira.
According to the farmers, in a petition sent to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, the destruction had been extensive, with cocoa plantations, palm trees, and other cash crops—nurtured over decades—reduced to rubble by earth-moving equipment.
Families reportedly affected include the Olurin family of Ilaro, Dosunmu, Ogundele, Apena, Olayanju, and Adeyemi, all from Modeolu and Aguro quarters of Ilaro.
Spokesperson for the affected families and the farmers’ association, Pastor Oyero Olurin, described the ordeal faced by the communities on a daily basis in the hand of land grabbers.
His words: “In late July, youths numbering over 30 stormed our farms and villages brandishing machetes, charms, and dangerous weapons. They beat farmers mercilessly and drove them out of their lands. We promptly reported the invasion to the Palace that policemen from Zone 2 accompanied the land grabbers and arrested two farmer andowners. The Palace swiftly intervened and the Zone 2 Police headquarters referred the case back to the Palace.”
Olurin alleged, however, that after the Zone 2 Police initially intervened, the matter was redirected to the Palace of the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, but the alleged land grabbers repeatedly ignored four consecutive palace summons.
He said instead, they reportedly approached the Alagbon Police Division in Lagos, which led to the arrest and detention of one Idowu Olayanju, a member of the Olayanju family.
Pastor Olurin explained that the matter was formally reported to the Ministry of Justice through a petition signed by all concerned families on August 1, 2025.
The ministry, he said, referred the case to the State Task Force on Land Grabbing set up by the governor.
On September 3, the Task Force invited both parties for an investigative meeting.
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According to Olurin, the alleged sponsors of the thugs—mostly young men under 40 and one elderly man of about 60—failed to present any legal documents to back their claims.
“On our part, we tendered valid court judgments and other legal documents proving ownership of the land,” he said.
“We have since petitioned the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, who sponsored the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, to intervene because we are in the process of losing a Tripartite Joint Venture worth over 50 billion naira signed with Quartaris and Sweden investors,” Olurin added.
He also noted that the Ilaro Divisional Police was not involved in any of the arrests or detentions, but that the Task Force was yet to visit the scenes of the crime since their petition was submitted, further raising questions about procedural irregularities.
The farmers’ association and women in the affected communities, have now called on Governor Abiodun to ensure strict enforcement of the state’s Anti-Land Grabbing Law.
They urged law enforcement agencies to protect farmers and families who are being “frustrated, harassed, and displaced by thugs and their sponsors.”
Background: Ogun State’s Anti-Land Grabbing Law
Ogun State was one of the first in Nigeria to enact a dedicated law against land grabbing, following years of violence, extortion, and unlawful displacement of landowners by so-called “omo onile” and hired thugs.
The Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law, 2016, signed by then-Governor Ibikunle Amosun, prescribes severe penalties—including up to 25 years imprisonment for offenders who forcefully take over land without lawful authority.
The law also criminalizes harassment of landowners by traditional land speculators and empowers the government to establish a Task Force on Anti-Land Grabbing to investigate and prosecute offenders.
It was designed to safeguard peace, protect genuine landowners, and encourage agricultural and industrial investment in the state.
Despite this legal framework, incidents of land grabbing have persisted in several parts of Ogun State, prompting farmers, families, and communities to call for stricter enforcement.
Expert’s Comment
Legal analyst and human rights advocate, Barrister Gbenga Adegboye, emphasized that the law is only as effective as its enforcement.
“The Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law is one of the strongest in Nigeria, but the real challenge lies in ensuring compliance. If victims with valid court judgments cannot get justice because of intimidation or selective enforcement, then the credibility of the law is undermined. The government must act swiftly, not just to protect farmers, but also to send a strong signal that Ogun State remains a safe and lawful place to live, farm, and invest.”
