Leaders of several communities situated behind the Ogun State Government Secretariat in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, are up in arms against the state administration. Their grievance stems from a three-day evacuation notice served by the government, which they claim targets their ancestral homes.
Communities Decry Harassment, Claim Historical Ties
Expressing deep shock and frustration, the community leaders stated that the notice from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development came without any offer of alternative relocation sites. Speaking on behalf of the leaders from 15 affected communities, the Village Head of Itori Mogan, Chief Oludare Salako, revealed this over the weekend.
Salako emphasized that their villages have existed for approximately 300 years. He expressed dismay that the government is proceeding with plans for demolition despite the communities having taken the matter to court to seek an injunction against the action. "We continue to face persistent harassment by the government, as we were served and given three days to evacuate from our houses," Salako stated.
A Plea for Intervention and Government's Counter-Claim
Echoing similar sentiments, the Village Head of Ogunro Community, Chief Olakunle Bodunde, lamented the continuous harassment by officials. He called on well-meaning citizens and stakeholders in Ogun State to intervene. "We are pleading for help and support... to come to our aid and prevent the government from forcefully taking our land," Bodunde appealed.
However, the state government presented a starkly different narrative. In a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described the villagers as trespassers on government land.
Government Demands Proof of Ownership
Akinmade challenged the community leaders to present a Certificate of Occupancy (C/O) or any other documentary evidence proving their ownership of the land. He insisted that the land unequivocally belongs to the state government.
"If they have any proof that the land belongs to them, they should come out and show the proof. For the government to have given them notices is a fact that the government owns that land," Akinmade argued. He further stated, "So if they don't have any documents that link them to that land, that means they are trespassers. Let them also present their C/O indicating that the government want to evict them illegally, and if they don't have, let them keep shut."
The standoff highlights a classic conflict between claimed ancestral heritage and formal land documentation. With the communities seeking legal redress and the government standing firm on its eviction notice, the situation in Abeokuta remains tense as the three-day deadline looms.
