2 days ago
22
The Odo Oro community in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Thursday, lamented the devastating effect of the alleged destruction of their farmlands and cash crops by the cassava-producing company, Agbeyewa Farms Limited.
The community members, under the auspices of the Federation of Odo Oro Ekiti Development Union, who are protesting the encroachment of their land by the company, have petitioned the state governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene promptly and call the company to order.
In the petition to the governor, titled “Trespass/Criminal Destruction/Unlawful Encroachment on Odo Oro Community Farmland by Agbeyewa Farms,” written on their behalf by their lawyer, Kayode Akinwumi, the federation and the landowners described the encroachment as a “brazen assault on their collective sensibilities by Agbeyewa Farms.”
They lamented that they would have no means of livelihood if their farmlands were taken by the company.
The petitioners, who urged the governor to intervene as a matter of urgency, said, “At the time of writing this letter, Agbeyewa Farms and its agents are wreaking havoc on our farmlands. Odo Oro’s land is not a desert. Your Excellency, we urge you to please protect the people’s means of livelihood from further destruction.”
Akinwumi, flanked by the federation’s leadership and the landowners, said at a press conference in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, that Odo Oro land had not been given to Agbeyewa Farms for cassava farming.
He expressed surprise that the company had forcibly expanded its operations to destroy farmlands outside its jurisdiction.
He said, “From time immemorial, we have been the lawful and bona fide owners of a large expanse of land situated at Aun farmland in Ugboroko, Ikasi farmland in Ugbo Olookoju, and Ologobamba, all in Odo Oro Ekiti.”
He accused workers of Agbeyewa Farms of trespassing on various portions of land in Odo Oro with plough machines, clearing parts of the land and, in the process, wantonly destroying various economic trees, including cocoa, oranges, cashew trees, and Iroko trees.
In its response, the company dismissed the allegations, claiming that the land they were working on in Odo Oro was among those legally allocated to them by the state government.
The Director of Corporate Communications and Engagement at Agbeyewa Farms, Dauda Lawal, said, “The allegations made by the Odo Oro community regarding land encroachment are unfounded and misdirected. The 5,000 hectares of land allocated to us by the Ekiti State Government, spanning Ipao, Esun, Odo Oro, and Itapaji communities, was obtained legally and through due process.”
Lawal, who stated that Agbeyewa Farms had never signed any Memorandum of Understanding with Odo Oro or any other community for compensation, said, “During our discussions with the state government regarding the said land, we were told that compensation would be handled by the state government to the affected communities.”
He further stated, “We urge the Odo Oro community to direct their concerns to the Ekiti State Government, which allocated the 5,000 hectares of land to us, collected payment from us, and issued us a Certificate of Occupancy.
“We are law-abiding corporate entities focused on promoting sustainable agriculture, economic growth, and community development, rather than perpetuating unfounded allegations,” Lawal concluded.
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