Hundreds of farmers from Ipinlerere Camp in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday staged a protest over what they described as an alleged attempt by suspected land grabbers to take over their farmlands.

Armed with placards of various inscriptions, the protesting farmers, chanting solidarity songs, demanded justice and immediate action from government and traditional authorities in the area to resolve the dispute peacefully.

They lamented that the disputed lands are their only source of livelihood and expressed concern that continued encroachment on their farmlands could threaten food production and the economic survival of the community.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting farmers, Okoze Isaac, said he had lived and cultivated farmland in the community for over five decades, adding that the land remained his primary source of livelihood and the basis of his family’s survival.

He alleged that the recent activities of suspected land grabbers had created fear and uncertainty among farmers in the area, warning that any attempt to dispossess them of their farmlands would have severe consequences on their economic wellbeing and food production in the community.

Isaac alleged that the situation escalated when unknown individuals arrived in the area with heavy equipment, including bulldozers, to begin clearing portions of the farmland, a development he said sparked panic among local farmers.

He said “I came to Owena, Ayetoro in 1972. This place was known as Ipinlerere. This land belongs to Idanre. I have never heard that Akure owns this farmland.

“They brought bulldozers to clear everything. Despite this, we are not fighting violently. Our struggle is peaceful, we are demonstrating peacefully.

“We feed our children from this farm; we don’t want to resort to stealing. The government should allow us to remain here and continue farming,”

According to him, the community is made up of several farming camps, with residents who depend entirely on agriculture for their daily survival and economic sustenance.

“We have been here working, buying farmland, and feeding from it. There are more than six camps spread across this area.

“But now, some people have come to drive us away from the land where we earn our living, saying they are sent by the Monarch of Akure (Deji), Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi.

“This is very unfortunate. These people depend on this land for survival and education of their children. The situation is becoming tensed”

The farmers also appealed to the state government and traditional authorities to intervene before the situation escalates further.

He cautioned that any disruption in the area could have wider social and political consequences.

“This community contributes significantly during elections. If this continues, it will deepen poverty and frustration,” he warned.

A community member, Dele Akindojuromi, said the development has caused fear among long-time farmers who consider the land ancestral.

He said “This is our ancestral land. Suddenly, people came to survey and started clearing the land, claiming they were sent from Akure. We thought it was a joke, but before we knew it, they were all over the land. We told them the land belongs to Idanre.

We are begging the government, we inherited this land and we feed our children from it.

We are calling on the government to intervene urgently before this situation escalates beyond control.

“Many people are already falling ill due to what is happening. Our children may drop out of school. This land is their future, it was handed down by their forefathers,”

The farmers urged the Ondo State Government to investigate the allegations and prevent what they described as an impending humanitarian and livelihood crisis in the farming community.

“When someone is driven away from the place they depend on for food, it can lead to death. How are we supposed to survive? We are pleading with the government to tell the King of Akure to leave our farms for us so that we can continue to feed our children,” he said.

The protesters called on the Ondo State Government to urgently investigate the matter and protect their ancestral lands from what they described as unlawful encroachment.(Nigerian Tribune)