Residents of Ikoya community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest over the alleged arrest and detention of some community members in connection with a longstanding land dispute involving the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company (OOPC).
The protesters, who marched through the streets of Ikoya, accused the management of OOPC and the Nigeria Police of orchestrating the “unjust arrest and detention” of their fellow residents.
They carried placards bearing inscriptions such as, “OOPPlc, Obey Supreme Court Judgment and Quit Our Land,” “Enough of Police Harassment and Intimidation,” and “Free Three Ikales and Release Your Landlord Unconditionally.”
Speaking to journalists, the protesters demanded the immediate and unconditional release of three residents allegedly arrested by the police—Mrs. Bose Loyinmi-Ogunlowo, Mrs. Rachael Akinirun, and Mr. Orimisan Adelokiki, who is the national leader of the Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council.
They claimed the arrests stemmed from their resistance to what they described as the illegal occupation and acquisition of Ikoya communal land by OOPC. The protesters argued that the company never reached a valid agreement with the community before taking over the oil palm plantation.
The protesters cited a 1988 Supreme Court judgment which they said mandated OOPC to either negotiate a valid agreement with the host community or vacate the land. They alleged that the company has continued to operate without fulfilling the legal requirement.
Human rights activist, Mr. Feyi Ekundayo, who joined the protest, condemned the arrests and accused both OOPC and the police of intimidation.
“We will not tolerate the acquisition of our land under any guise. We are peace-loving people, but we will resist any further harassment and intimidation over our lawful property,” Ekundayo said.
Also speaking, Mr. Oluyemi Akinirun, Coordinator of the Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council, reaffirmed the community’s claim over the land and described the company’s presence as unlawful.
“OOPC has refused to produce any agreement backing their occupation of our land. Instead, they have turned to police intimidation. Even my wife, Rachael, was arrested for demanding justice,” he said.
On his part, the youth leader, Mr. Olusola Adenodi, appealed to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to urgently intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“This matter is capable of escalating. The government must act now to restore peace and uphold justice,” he said.
Reacting to the protest, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the arrests but noted that the persons involved had already been arraigned in court and remanded based on judicial orders.
