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- Fears of displacement grip Okanran communities
By Lukman Olabiyi
Tension is rising in Okanran and dozens of neighbouring communities in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun State, as residents sound the alarm over what they describe as persistent attacks, disputed land claims, illegal demolition and a deepening sense of insecurity in their ancestral homes.
The land has been more than a means of livelihood; it is identity, heritage and history. Today, however, that connection is under strain, as a protracted dispute over ownership and authority threatens to upend lives and fracture long-standing communal bonds.
At the centre of the crisis lies a complex web of legal, traditional and administrative claims over a vast expanse of land. Community members allege that a group, reportedly led by one Togun, is asserting control over approximately 1,200 hectares, a move, residents insist, is both unlawful and destabilising.
The communities argue that the dispute originated from a chieftaincy matter involving a single family and should not extend to land ownership in multiple settlements.
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They further claim that attempts to justify expansive land claims through past legal rulings misrepresent the position of the courts, including that of the Supreme Court, which they say did not confer such rights.
Residents also question the legitimacy of a government gazette allegedly issued during the administration of former governor Gbenga Daniel, describing it as the basis for what they term “fraudulent claims.”
They accuse the group of deploying intimidation tactics, including the use of armed men and falsified documents, to assert control over the land.
In the affected communities, fear has become a daily reality. Villagers recount repeated invasions, destruction of property and physical assaults that have disrupted farming and trading, the backbone of the local economy.
“Our farmlands are no longer safe. People are afraid to go out and work. What used to be peaceful communities are now places of uncertainty,” John, a farmer with the communities.
The situation, residents say, is further complicated by alleged complicity from some officials within the Bureau of Lands and Survey, who they accuse of facilitating attempts to appropriate community land, an allegation that underscores growing distrust in formal institutions.
