Residents of Ibese in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have asked the state government to intervene after accusing some people of trying to rename their land and carry out illegal activities that distort their true location.
The residents made this demand during a peaceful protest on Saturday as they marched through the town. They held placards with messages like “Stop False Territorial Claims,” “No to Encroachment,” “Our Land, Our Right. Government Intervene Now!” and “Frontier FM and Hotel Should Not Trespass Ibese.”
Speaking to journalists, the General Secretary of the Ibese Youth Association, Mr. Luqman Alagbe, said the protest was triggered by a wrong public announcement that a radio station located in Ibese was in Ilaro. He said this false claim was a deliberate attempt to support an illegal land-grabbing plan.
According to him, such misinformation could change official records, digital maps, business listings, and how the public sees Ibese. He added that it threatens the community’s history and territorial identity, causing anger among the people.
He explained, “The Frontier Hotel is clearly on Ibese land, and any radio station operating inside the hotel is also on Ibese land. The correct location is Ibese, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. We have documents, history, tradition, and government records to prove our boundaries.
“We call on the Ogun State Government, ministries, security agencies, and the boundary commission to stop this false rebranding of our land and prevent illegal activities that mislead people about our location.”
The residents also warned that if nothing is done, rising tension could lead to unnecessary conflict.
“We want the government to act before the situation gets worse and punish anyone spreading false claims. We respect the authorities and value peace, but we will not sit and watch our ancestral identity being wiped away,” they said.
