Ibadan: Oyetunde family raises alarm over invasion, destruction of property

The Oyetunde family, a prominent royal lineage in Ibadan, Oyo State, has cried out over the alleged incessant invasion of its ancestral land at Ayegun Olomi Olojuoro Village in the Oluyole Local Government Area of the state by suspected land grabbers.

The head of the family, Baale Jelili Oyetunde, who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan, accused the invaders of being backed by the Ashipa of Ibadanland, High Chief Amidu Ajibade, and an official of the Oyo State Anti-Land Grabbing Agency, Mr. Busari Isa.

According to him, the duo were allegedly supporting Baale Alimi Yusuf Lafiku, Saheed Olawoyin (popularly known as Omo Egun), Morufu Okeseyin, and Baale Olonde Ige in their bid to forcefully take over the family’s land.

He explained that Baale Lafiku, who previously acted as a witness to several of the Oyetunde family’s land sale agreements, had suddenly turned around to lay claims to the same property.

Oyetunde said, “Despite valid court judgments delivered in 1910, 1922, and 1938, and a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1939 affirming our family’s ownership of the land, these people have continued to trespass and destroy our property with impunity.

“Adding salt to injury, another case was instituted in court in 2022 and is still ongoing. Yet, these individuals have refused to stop their unlawful activities. They have been invading our land, destroying our property, and injuring our people — all while a case is pending in court. It’s a clear case of might is right, and we won’t fold our arms.”

The family appealed to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to intervene and ensure justice is served, urging him to rein in the activities of land grabbers operating across the state.

They also called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to call High Chief Ajibade to order in the interest of peace.

“We want peace, but we will not sit idly by while our ancestral land is being taken over. We’ll fight tooth and nail to protect our heritage,” Oyetunde said.

The family noted that it had produced two former Olubadans — Olubadan Petuoshin Oyetunde I and Olubadan Shittu Akintola Oyetunde II — and vowed to protect the family’s legacy and ancestral inheritance at all costs.