nFarmers and residents of Aponmu community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday staged a protest against the activities of alleged land grabbers in the area.
The protesters, who converged on the entrance of the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital, alleged that their farmlands had been destroyed as a result of land-grabbing activities.
They were armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Powerful people have taken over our cocoa farms,” “Mr Governor, please save our souls,” and “We can’t pay our children’s school fees again,” among others.
Speaking, the leader of the protesters, Pastor Tope Akinkuade, lamented that the community had been under intimidation and violent attacks from individuals claiming to act under the authority of a traditional institution over the years.
He warned that the development might degenerate into open confrontation if the government failed to intervene urgently.
He said, “Aponmu is a multi-ethnic community that has, for over a century, accommodated people from across Nigeria, most of whom are cocoa farmers.
“Our cocoa farms, our only source of livelihood, are being destroyed by these land grabbers who invade with armed men, clear farmlands with bulldozers, and sell them off with impunity.”
According to him, several farmers in the community had been harassed, arrested, and detained unjustly after resisting the invaders.
He added that some of them had lost everything while others live in constant fear.
“Cocoa farming is the lifeblood of Ondo State’s economy and a key contributor to Nigeria’s GDP.
“But now, millions of cocoa trees are being destroyed, families are starving, and the state is losing revenue because a few powerful individuals have chosen greed over humanity,” Akinkuade said.
He noted that a letter was earlier sent to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on October 17, 2025, to inform him of the activities of the land grabbers and the growing tension in the community, but despite the letter, the matter had continued unabated.
“On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the bulldozers came again, guarded by policemen.
“When villagers confronted them, the policemen briefly withdrew, only to return later, claiming they were acting under some authority,” he said.
Akinkuade appealed to Aiyedatiwa to act swiftly to prevent chaos in the community, stressing that people could not wait any longer.
Addressing the protesters, the Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, commended them for conducting themselves peacefully and urged them to remain calm, assuring them that the government would look into their grievances.
Taiwo advised the protesters to channel their complaints through the appropriate authorities, promising that the governor would ensure a peaceful and just resolution to the lingering dispute.
“This administration is committed to protecting the lives, property, and investments of the people across the state,” Taiwo stated.
(Punch)
