By: Femi Emmanuel
Residents of Oloya Village in Oriire Local Government Area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have voiced strong opposition to what they described as an attempt by an outsider to unlawfully take possession of their ancestral land.
The community members, who insist they are the legitimate customary owners of the disputed property, alleged that an individual who is neither a native of Oloya Village nor a recognised stakeholder in the community is attempting to forcefully claim the land without their consent or approval.
Hundreds of men and women from across the village reportedly gathered in protest, carrying leaves and chanting solidarity songs to express their rejection of the alleged encroachers. The demonstrators maintained that the land is a family inheritance passed down through generations and should not be sold or transferred without the collective agreement of the rightful owners.
Speaking during the protest, residents accused the encroachers of engaging in land grabbing and attempting to dispossess the community of property that has historically belonged to them.
One of the protesters, Mrs. Bolanle Buhari, told ScoopChase reporters that her husband, Buhari, allegedly lost his life while trying to resist previous attempts by land grabbers to seize the community’s land. She said the incident, alongside other developments surrounding the dispute, has left many residents traumatised and in need of assistance.
The matter was brought before a court on April 13, 2026, in an effort to resolve the dispute. However, the case was adjourned until June 22, 2026, for further hearing.
The villagers further alleged that despite the court adjournment and existing legal processes, the alleged trespassers proceeded to enter the disputed land, uproot trees, and bulldoze economically valuable vegetation—actions they said demonstrate disregard for the rule of law.
The Oloya community has appealed to the government, security agencies, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and protect their ancestral land from an alleged unlawful takeover.
As of the time of filing this report, activities on the land had reportedly ceased following the service of court summons.
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