1
BOLU-OLU ESHO
Natives of the Aponmu community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday stormed the governor’s office at Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State capital, protesting the invasion of their land by some suspected land grabbers.
They said the invaders have destroyed their crops, particularly their cocoa plantation, and allegedly attacked those who put up resistance.
Among inscriptions on the placards displayed by the protesters are “Mr Governor, please save our soul, we are suffering,” “Mr Governor, please help us,” “Our Coca farms have been taken over by land grabbers.”
They, therefore, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to rescue them from the invaders to avoid violence in the community.
Leader of the protesters, Pastor Tope Akinkuade, explained that the residents are being tormented by the alleged land grabbers as they bulldoze their crops with impunity.
The farmers disclosed that the invaders came with armed thugs to attack any farmer who dared resist them.
According to a letter submitted to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa through his Special Adviser (Special Duties), Bola Taiwo, the protesting farmers appealed to the governor to intervene with a view to preventing further destruction of their farms, which could degenerate to violence in the community.
The letter reads in parts, “This is to inform Your Excellency of an imminent threat to peace in Aponmu, arising from possible confrontation with land grabbers operating in the community, which may lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“Aponmu is a multi-ethnic settlement, which, over a century, accommodated different ethnic nationalities across Nigeria, whose preoccupation is cocoa farming. Many people own cocoa plantations, which are their only source of livelihood.
“Over some time now, this source of income has been under the threat of certain known and unknown individuals who claim that they were acting under the authority and authorisation of a traditional authority.
“These people usually come in warlike manners, armed with attack weapons, forcefully take over cocoa farms, clear the farms with earth-moving equipment, survey, and sell away. They do this with impunity, sometimes getting the farm owners framed up, arrested, detained, and later released after such poor innocents had been cowed down and silenced through brutish intimidation.
“Large areas of cocoa farms have been destroyed and annexed this way by force. Some years ago, one Emmanuel Ogboriefon, an Aponmu Community leader, was hacked to death on his farm while resisting the incursion into his farm by these land grabbers.
“One Charles Akinrolayo lost almost all his cocoa farmland to these land marauders who bulldozed and sold it. To forestall resistance, he was arrested, taken to Ondo town, and detained for four days.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that cocoa is a veritable source of revenue and a mainstay of Ondo State’s economy. In fact, it is an important integral contribution to Nigeria’s GDP. Sadly, these economic trees are being destroyed in their millions for the selfish purposes of a few individuals.
“Besides the state losing revenue, hundreds of cocoa owners and their dependents are dying, and others are groaning in hunger due to the illegal grabbing of their sources of income.
The happenings in Aponmu display a picture of a state of anarchy. It is as if there is no law in Ondo State. It appears as if the government is not in place, as farm owners are bundled away, and no one defends them.
“Some of the people being used to execute for this heinous act are jobless men, now gallivanting around Aponmu in expensive vehicles and suddenly becoming local financiers, lending money to the victims with interest. Daily, Aponmu villagers live in palpable fear, not knowing whose turn it is for his farm to be overridden.”
However, the angry protesting farmers were implored by the Special Adviser to the governor, Bola Taiwo, to remain calm, assuring them that the government would look into the matter quickly.
He commended them for peacefully conducting themselves, adding that the government is committed to protecting lives, property and investments across the state.
Nevertheless, the farmers said they would continue with the protest till the state government attend to them.
