Residents and farmers in Ipinlerere Camp, Owena, in Ayetoro area of Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over an alleged attempt to take over their farmlands.
The demonstrators, who turned out in large numbers, carried placards and chanted slogans, insisting that the land remained their only source of livelihood. They appealed to the state government to intervene and allow them continue farming activities in the area.
Chanting in unison, the protesters said, “We feed our families from this land; we don’t want to turn to crime. Government should let us remain here and farm.”
One of the farmers, Okoze Isaac, said he had lived and cultivated land in the community for over five decades, noting that the area had long been known as Ipinlerere and historically belonged to Idanre.
“I came here in 1972, and we have been farming ever since. This land has always been ours. I have never heard that it belongs to Akure,” he said.
Isaac explained that the community comprises several farming settlements whose residents depend entirely on agriculture for survival.
“We have invested our lives here—buying farmland and feeding our families. There are over six camps in this area, but now some people want to force us out,” he added.
He alleged that tension rose after some individuals reportedly arrived with bulldozers to clear parts of the land.
“They came with heavy equipment and started clearing. Despite this, we have chosen to remain peaceful in our protest,” he said.
The farmer warned that displacing the residents could have severe consequences, including hunger and loss of livelihoods.
“If we are driven away from the land we depend on, it could be disastrous. We are pleading with the government to intervene and allow us to continue farming,” he added.
Another resident, Akinsola Akintan, described the development as disturbing, urging authorities to act swiftly.
“These people rely entirely on this land to feed their families and educate their children. The government must step in,” he said.
He also noted the community’s importance in local political participation, adding that the area contributes significantly to electoral turnout during elections.
Also speaking, a community member, Dele Akindojuromi, said the land had been passed down through generations.
“This is our ancestral land. We only noticed that some people came to survey it, claiming they were sent by the Akure monarch. Before we realised what was happening, they had spread across the land,” he said.
The protesters called on the Ondo State Government to investigate the matter and protect their ancestral lands from what they described as unlawful encroachment.
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