Residents and property owners at Harmony Estate in Oluyole, Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan, have staged a protest over alleged land grabbing in the community, claiming that more than 30 houses and several undeveloped plots have been taken over.
The protesters appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I; and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, to intervene in the dispute before it escalates into a breakdown of law and order.
According to the residents, the dispute has disrupted the peace of the estate and allegedly left some property owners unable to access their homes.
The protesters subsequently took their grievances to the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters at Eleyele, Ibadan, where they submitted a petition seeking the intervention of the Commissioner of Police.
Speaking after the petition was submitted, one of the affected property owners, Sunny Gold, alleged that those laying claim to properties in the estate had resorted to force rather than allowing the dispute to be determined through the courts.
Gold said residents had previously reported the matter and were awaiting a court date when the latest developments occurred.
He alleged that some individuals subsequently entered the estate and padlocked the gates of disputed properties.
Gold further claimed that police officers accompanied those asserting ownership over the properties and that some landlords were briefly arrested before being released.
“We don’t have peace again in our community,” Gold said.
He maintained that anyone claiming ownership of the affected land or buildings should present the relevant documents before a court and allow the legal process to determine the rightful owners.
According to him, residents were not opposed to anyone pursuing a legitimate ownership claim but objected to what they described as intimidation and the use of force to take possession of properties while the dispute remained unresolved.
‘We Want the Court to Decide’
Elder Boluwaduro Famiyesi, who said he has lived in the estate for more than 30 years and is among its earliest settlers, also appealed for government intervention.
Famiyesi said the community had enjoyed relative peace for decades before the current dispute and expressed concern that the situation could deteriorate if urgent steps were not taken.
He called on all parties claiming ownership of the disputed properties to allow the courts to determine the matter rather than resorting to self-help.
Famiyesi also appealed to the state government and security agencies to protect residents while the ownership dispute is being resolved.
Other residents, including Elder Ezekiah Oyedeji and Prince Samuel Adeyemi, described the situation as increasingly worrying.
They joined other protesters in calling on the Oyo State Government, the Olubadan and the police to intervene and ensure that the dispute is resolved peacefully and through lawful means.
The residents said their immediate concern was the restoration of peace in Harmony Estate and the protection of property owners while competing ownership claims are subjected to the appropriate legal process.
They also urged the police to investigate their allegations and prevent any action capable of triggering confrontation between the parties involved.
As of the time of filing this report, Ibadan City Announcer had not independently established the ownership of the disputed properties or the residents’ allegations against those they described as land grabbers.
The individuals accused by the residents of attempting to take over the properties had also not publicly responded to the allegations.
