Barely one year after its inauguration on May 28, 2025, the Ondo State Task Force on Property Protection and Anti-Land Grabbing has evolved from a policy initiative into a major force in the state’s justice and land administration system.
The task force was established by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to address rising cases of land grabbing, fraudulent land sales, forceful acquisition of property, and other related offences that had long plagued communities across the state.
In many parts of Ondo State, genuine landowners had reportedly suffered repeated sales of the same plots, forged documentation, illegal occupation, and intimidation by organised actors, leading to loss of property, abandoned investments, and recurring communal disputes.
To address the crisis, the governor first issued an Executive Order on Anti-Land Grabbing while the enabling legislation was still being processed. He later signed the Anti-Land Grabbing Law after its passage and subsequently inaugurated the task force, signalling a firm stance that impunity in land matters would no longer be tolerated.
The task force is chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, OON, and comprises key stakeholders from security, land administration, and infrastructure sectors, including the Surveyor-General of the State, representatives of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, the Commissioner of Police, the Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, and other professionals.
Officials say the composition was designed to ensure technical competence, institutional coordination, and broad-based enforcement of land administration laws.
Operating from its temporary office at Oke-Eda in Akure, the task force has become a key destination for residents seeking redress in land-related disputes, with petitions arriving from across the state.
Within one year, it has handled over 350 cases involving land grabbing, boundary disputes, fraudulent transfers, multiple sales of land, and forceful takeover of property through mediation, investigation, enforcement, and prosecution.
A key feature of its operations has been the prioritisation of alternative dispute resolution. Parties are invited, documents are reviewed, and efforts are made to resolve disputes amicably where possible, with written undertakings sometimes obtained to prevent further violations.
Officials say this approach has helped reduce pressure on the courts while promoting reconciliation and community stability.
However, where parties refuse cooperation or continue unlawful acts, the task force proceeds with enforcement in collaboration with security agencies and the judiciary, including prosecution where necessary.
One of its defining principles, according to officials, is strict adherence to equality before the law, with traditional rulers, community leaders, land speculators, and ordinary citizens all subject to investigation where credible allegations are established.
The Attorney-General, Dr. Ajulo, has repeatedly maintained that the task force operates on the principle that status or influence offers no immunity from accountability, stressing that enforcement must align strictly with due process.
The impact of the initiative, according to reports from several communities, includes a noticeable decline in forceful land seizures, fraudulent resale of property, and violent land-related clashes.
In many areas, residents are increasingly relying on documentation, verification, and formal legal processes rather than self-help or coercion.
Beyond enforcement, the task force has also contributed to improved investor confidence in the state’s property sector, particularly in real estate, agriculture, and infrastructure development.
By strengthening protection of property rights and promoting legal compliance, the administration is positioning Ondo State as a more secure environment for investment.
Public awareness on land documentation and due diligence has also improved, with growing emphasis on proper records and lawful transactions.
The task force continues to work closely with security agencies and the judiciary to ensure that cases are handled within the framework of the law.
While challenges persist, officials say the first year of operation reflects a significant institutional shift in land governance, with growing reliance on legality, transparency, and accountability.
According to observers, the initiative is gradually reshaping land ownership practices in the state, replacing force with documentation and reducing reliance on informal arrangements.
One year after its establishment, the task force is increasingly being viewed as a major reform instrument in Ondo State’s land administration system, with stakeholders describing it as a key policy intervention of the Aiyedatiwa administration.
Yomisaint is Technical Adviser to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
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