Crisis is brewing in Ikoya community, Okitipupa LGA, Ondo State, as residents on Wednesday protested alleged arrest of some community members over land acquisition by the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company (OOPC).
The protesters at Ikoya, accused OOPC management and the police of “unjust arrest and detention” of some members of the community.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like: “OOPPlc, Obey Supreme Court Judgment and Quit Our Land’; “Enough of Police Harassment and Intimidation”; “Free Three Ikales and Release Your Landlord Unconditionally”.
Some of the protesters who spoke to newsmen demanded the immediate and unconditional release of members of the community arrested and detained by the police.
They alleged that the police arrested three of their community members, namely: Mrs. Bose Loyinmi-Ogunlowo, Mrs. Rachael Akinirun and Mr Orimisan Adelokiki, the national leader of Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council, over land dispute with OOPC.
They also demanded the eviction of OOPC from their land, alleging that the company had no valid agreement with the community before acquiring the oil palm plantation.
They presented a Supreme Court judgment of 1988 as evidence, which they claimed ruled that OOPC should negotiate a valid agreement with the community or vacate the land.
They, however, called on Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa to wade into the issue as a matter of urgency before it resulted to crisis.
Mr Feyi Ekundayo, a Human Right Activist told newsmen that Ikoya people are law-abiding citizens but would not let anyone to unlawfully take the possession of their land under any guise.
“We will not tolerate the acquisition of our land under any guise. We’re peace loving people but we will resist further harassment and intimidation of our people over our lawful property.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of our people arrested and detained by the police, because an injustice to one is injustice to all,” Ekundayo said.
Mr Oluyemi Akinirun, Cordinator of Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council also alleged that the OOPC acquired Ikoya Oil Palm plantation unlawfully, saying the company do not have any valid agreement with the community.
“What we’re asking for is very simple, OOPC should present any agreement for the acquisition of our land but they refused and begin harassing and intimidating our leaders, even my wife, Rachael, was arrested over the matter.
“We have a 1988 Supreme Court judgment which ruled that OOPC should have proper agreement with us or vacate our plantation, this is our evidence and we will not rest on our oars over this matter,” Akinirun said.
Another youth leader, Mr Olusola Adenodi appealed to the governor to step into the matter, so as to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Reacting to the protest, the Police spokesman in the state, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade said that those arrested had been arraigned and remanded on the order of the court.
