Group petitions IGP, Oyebanji as ‘invaders destroy farms, ancestral land’ in Ekiti

The Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Rights (CEDSER) has asked Abiodun Oyebanji, governor of Ekiti, and the inspector general of police (IGP) to investigate a large-scale land-grabbing allegation in Itapaji-Ekiti, Ajoni LGA of the state.

In the petition, the group alleged that some land grabbers invaded several acres of land belonging to over 10,000 residents in Itapaji without their consent and that of the traditional institution in the community. 

CEDSER said the invasion raises fundamental questions about the future of the environment and livelihood of the owners who have “lived on their ancient land for close to 1000 years”.

“The grabbers invaded Itapaji, one of the most fertile soils in the Northern fringe of Ekiti where they are currently bulldozing several acres of land without the free, prior, and informed consent of the owners of the land and the traditional institution in the community,” the petition reads.

“Reports received from community leaders in the town indicated that the encroachment on the ancestral land of Itapaji people began two years ago but was halted partly due to communal resistance but that the invaders came again this year to continue their mission of extermination of the indigenous people.”

The rights group said the invaders came with several heavy-duty equipment which led to the loss of valuable trees, and farmlands, and the destruction of sacred spiritual sites and special species of plants and animals. 

 “The community woke up to the noise of bulldozers and caterpillars. The invaders had no discussion with anyone,” the petition further reads.

“The agricultural crops, spiritual worship places of the indigenous communities, their plants and lush green forest, and their health-giving plants were mauled down in a few hours by an unknown group of land grabbers who claim to be acting on orders from above. The invaders target over 100 hectares of land which is almost half of the entire landmass of the community.

“The community youths and elders are prepared to lay down their lives than to allow their land and ancestry to be wiped out by a profiteering, inhuman, cruel and greedy racket urging the Inspector General of Police, (IG), the State Governor, Oyebanji and other human right groups to urgently intervene to stop an epic resistance that could lead to the loss of human lives.”