Farmers and residents of Ipoye-Ijesa in Atakumosa West Local Government Area of Osun State today staged a peaceful protest at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, calling on authorities to caution the Olupoye of Ipoye-Ijesa, Oba Femi Olowolagba, over alleged illegal sales of ancestral farmlands, land grabbing, and unauthorised gold mining activities.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Oba Femi Olowolagba has sold our village and family lands to developers,” “Destroyed our farmland produce in the name of mining gold,” and “Our King, Owa Clement Ajimoko, please save us from Oba Olowolagba,” gathered at the palace demanding immediate intervention.
Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved residents, Mr. Tolulope Alonge, Mr. Akinbinu Idowu Elemo, and Mrs. Oyinade Adekunle Ajayi alleged that Oba Femi Olowolagba had earlier signed an undertaking with the police not to encroach on community lands but had continued to defy the agreement.
They added that a formal petition had already been submitted to the office of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Clement Adesuyi Haastrup.
They further appealed to Ademola Adeleke, urging the Osun State Government to step in urgently to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
According to the protesters, immediate intervention from the governor, the Owa Obokun, and other critical stakeholders is necessary to avert what they described as looming communal unrest.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Olupoye of Ipoye-Ijesa, Oba Femi Olowolagba, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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