Security forces in Osun State have taken decisive action to prevent a potential outbreak of communal violence in Ejigbo. The intervention by the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force follows a rapidly escalating conflict over a valuable parcel of land.
Monarch's Decree Backs Baptist Mission's Ownership
The heart of the controversy is an 85-acre plot of land at Oke Moyo Area, along Ede Road, Ejigbo. The dispute, which has simmered since 2022, pits the Ejigbo Baptist Mission against the Lawal Obelawo family. The situation reached a critical point over the weekend when bulldozers, allegedly sent by Chief Obelawo, moved to clear portions of the Baptist property.
In a powerful move to quell tensions, the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin II, issued a public notice affirming the Baptist Mission's legal claim. The traditional ruler cited palace archives and oral history, revealing that his predecessor, Oba Oyedemi Bello (1916-1940), gifted the land to the Mission free of charge around 1936.
"The property was given for the purpose of Mission, Evangelism and Community development," Oba Oyesosin declared. He detailed that the land was formally surveyed for the Mission on 8 July 1946 during the reign of Oba Oyetunde Mogbesola II. The monarch firmly stated that the Ejigbo Baptist Mission remains the legal owner in perpetuity, as long as the land is used for its intended purpose.
Weekend Confrontation and Community Resistance
Despite the royal pronouncement, the dispute turned violent recently. According to Rev. Joshua Atoyeje of the Ejigbo Baptist District, armed individuals accompanied a bulldozer to the site last Saturday, targeting land where the Ejigbo Baptist High School (EBHS) stands.
"We approached them to stop but they refused, claiming that they were from Chief Obelawo," Rev. Atoyeje recounted. When church officials reported the invasion to the police, they were allegedly told that land matters were outside police jurisdiction and advised to go to court.
Fearing further encroachment, church members organised night surveillance with local hunters. The confrontation resumed on Sunday morning around 9:00 AM, prompting a massive mobilisation. Members, youths, deacons, and pastors left Sunday services to physically resist the bulldozers, successfully forcing the operators to retreat.
Historical Significance and Broader Implications
This land is central to Ejigbo's educational and religious heritage. The Baptist presence, represented by five historic churches known as IBUBA, has been instrumental in community development. In 1962, these churches collectively established Ejigbo Baptist High School, which quickly rose to become one of the top ten schools in the old Western Region.
The crisis has galvanised the Baptist community and its extensive alumni network. Chief Tayo Adebowale, National President of the EBHS Old Students Association, was reportedly on-site during Sunday's standoff. The churches have formed a seven-member committee, mandated lawyers to file petitions with Zone 11 police headquarters in Osogbo, and are seeking court injunctions. Diaspora members have also engaged the DSS office in Ejigbo for mediation.
With land disputes increasingly triggering communal violence across Nigeria, the peaceful resolution of the Ejigbo situation is a priority. Security agencies are now actively working to de-escalate tensions, while the Baptist Mission continues nightly patrols with hunters and pursues legal avenues to secure its historic property.
