ABEOKUTA – Settlers of Itori Mogan, Laaki, Jaguna, Ogunu, Paashi, Kumapayi and Abule Odo of Ijemoland in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State have issued a stark warning to the state government over the planned demolition of their village, threatening to invoke their spiritual deities against Governor Dapo Abiodun if the government refuse to halt the demolition exercise of their villages.
The Ogun State Government, through the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, Abeokuta Metro Zonal Planning Office, served a demolition notice with service number 00047932 on the occupiers of Itori Onimogan village on Friday, accusing them of contravening the Land Use Act of Ogun State for residing in Hillcrest Estate.
Hillcrest Estate is the newly named area given to the adjoining 20 villages, which the government wanted to demolish to build its supposed estate.
According to the demolition notice dated January 9, 2026, the government gave three days deadline for the occupiers to vacate the alleged affected villages that fell within the government acquisition.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, the Baale Itori Mogan, Chief Oludare Salako, lamented government harassment since the inception of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
Chief Salako said in 2010, the Ogun State government under Otunba Gbenga Daniel had excised the community lands for them during the construction of the state secretariat at Oke-Mosan exempting them any government acquisition.
He explained further that, in 2020, the panel of enquiry on land matters in Ogun State set up by Governor Abiodun invited the community leaders for a review of the documents on the land.
According to him, the panel headed by Justice Solomon Olugbemi, Rtd recommended that the communities under the government excision should be exempted from any demolition or regeneration by the state government.
He expressed dismay over the recent contravention and demolition notices on their ancient houses by the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning.
He said, the villages have been existing for over 300years, centuries before the establishment of Ogun State Government in 1976.
He stressed further that the communities have sacrificed enough for the public overriding interest with the golf course, railway, and state secretariat taking a large chunk of their land.
Corroborating his colleague, the Baale of Ogunro, Chief Olakunle Bodunde, who also spoke on behalf of the other 20 affected villages marked for demolition, claimed they have been displaced from their city homes due to road construction and are now seeking shelter in their ancestral villages.
The Baale questions the government’s intentions, asking, “Where do they want us to go?” The village, built by their forefathers over 300 years ago, is now under threat.
He said that despite meeting with the governor and a panel of enquiry, the community feels ignored.
“We have not heard anything,” the Baale said, adding that the government’s silence has left them with no option but to invoke spiritual forces.
The communities accused the government of wanting to sell their land to Lagos-based cronies for personal gain, citing the area’s serene environment and proximity to the state secretariat.
The Baale appeals to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene, saying, “Governor, help us. We have nowhere to go.” Approximately 20 villages are under threat, with no clear reason given for the demolition.
“We cannot leave our ancestral land. We have spiritual deities that cannot be moved,” he declared.
Chief Bodunde noted that the state government has been dragged to court since October 2025 over the planned demolition of the villages, saying the government has not responded to court summons.
He queried why the government is acting in defiance of the court’s pronouncement before taking any action on the land.
He said they can as well wait for the court decision, instead of coming around harassing them with a bulldozer and a demolition notice, saying, “Why don’t you just wait for the court pronouncement?” Chief Bodunde declared.
He shielded Governor Abiodun from being aware of nefarious land activities allegedly carried out by some of his appointees, appealing to the governor to follow the rule of law and allow peace to reign in the State.
“I still want to believe that His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun, wouldn’t want to do something that would bring harm to the citizens of Ogun State. We want to believe that he’s actually not aware that some unscrupulous elements within his government are doing. They are manipulating the government machinery and structure to snatch land from people.
“They are more or less like land grabbers. If the government is waging war against land grabbing and we are still finding this kind of land grabbers within the government, it calls for concern. So, we want Governor Dapo to come to our aid, to wade into the matter and stop these actions of Ajagungbale. We are enjoying excision on our land. The government of Daniel has given us the exemption that we have been enjoying since that time. That’s why we went to the court to challenge all of those things, so they can as well wait for the court decision, instead of coming around harassing us, saying they would bring a bulldozer to demolish our house. Why don’t you just wait for the court pronouncement?”
