Residents of Ilara Remo in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a protest on Wednesday against the alleged forceful takeover of over 500 hectares of their farmland.

The community claims that officials from an international company, allegedly backed by the state government, are behind the land grabbing.
Protesters accused the officials of threatening to deploy soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services to intimidate them into submission.

Led by their regent, Chief Olukoya Sodunola, the residents brandished placards with messages such as “Gov Dapo Abiodun, save us from destruction,” “Stay away from our land,” and “Idongan land is not for sale.”

During the protest, Sodunola expressed their frustration, stating, “About six days ago, we woke up to find people entering our farmland with caterpillars, destroying our cassava, maize, and vegetables.

“When we inquired about their identity, they claimed to be from the state government but could not provide any identification or permission. When we insisted they stop, they threatened us with soldiers and DSS operatives.”

He emphasised the community’s historical ties to the land, noting, “We have already given hundreds of hectares for the construction of the international airport and the Technical College. The remaining land is vital for farming and the future development of our community. Our community has existed for over 500 years, and we cannot allow these actions to erase our heritage.”

Another resident, Joseph Oyetola, lamented the situation, saying, “It’s disheartening that after giving up a large portion of our land for the Cargo Airport and Technical College, some outsiders now want to take the little we have left for farming and community development.

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“We believe this is not a government-sanctioned act, which is why we are pleading with Governor Abiodun for intervention.”

Alaba Sotayo, another resident, added that the officials identified themselves as representatives of the Arise Group of Companies.
He stated that although the group previously met with the community, they were told that the remaining land is essential for local farming and development.

“We don’t want them here. Are they trying to force us off our forefathers’ land? How will we feed our families if they take everything from us?” he questioned.

In response to the protest, the Special Adviser to Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, stated that the land in question falls under government acquisition, which was initiated about 20 years ago for public use, including the Agro Cargo Airport, now named Gateway International Airport. This acquisition reportedly spans 10,000 hectares across several communities, including Ilara, Iperu, Illisan, and Irolu.

Akinmade stated, “Compensation for the acquired land was paid during the acquisition period. Recently, there have been stakeholder engagements with relevant communities. The government is also developing the airport through a Public-Private Partnership, with the Arise Group as the private partner.

“The partner is currently working on a Resettlement Action Plan for affected community members, including those from Ilara.”

He also noted that community meetings regarding the Resettlement Action Plan had been ongoing, with another meeting scheduled before the end of the week, aiming to address the concerns of the residents.