Farmers in Iwo LGA have called on the Osun State Government to intervene in a land dispute between the Alakoko family of Agidi Feesu and a traditional ruler in Iwoland, the Onigege of Igege land, Oba Kazeem Adio.
During a recent peaceful protest in Iwo town, the farmers alleged that land grabbers had invaded their farmlands, prevented them from farming and victimised them, which resulted in the death of some farmers.
The Alakoko family alleged that Oba Adio was selling their ancestral farmland to real estate developers.
A human rights group, Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST), had petitioned the DSS in the state and the Commissioner for Justice, alerting them of a possible breakdown of law and order if Adio continued to disobey an injunction of the Osun State Customary Court restraining both parties from any use of the said land.
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THURIST’s Director General, Barr Sulaymon Tadese, expressed dissatisfaction over the action of the monarch by defying an order of court, saying it amounted to insubordination.
Speaking on behalf of the Alakoko family, Mr Mojeed Shifahu, alleged that the traditional ruler sold part of the farmland on July 3, and issued a receipt to the buyer despite the court order.
He said, “We abide by the court injunction restraining both parties from the land, but he is still selling the land. We told him to bring evidence to support his claim of ownership of the land but he could not provide any.”
But reacting, the monarch denied the allegation, saying, “They sold my land. They brought petrol to burn down my palace. They came with 40 motorcycles to attack me.”