The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution asking the state government to work with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to find a lasting solution to the land dispute affecting Apunren-Ijebu and nearby communities.
The Assembly suggested that the military should be given another place to use as a shooting range because of recent developments in the area. This decision was made after the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, presented a report from the House Committee. The motion was supported by the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, and approved by all members during a plenary session led by the Speaker, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, at the Assembly Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
According to the report, the land dispute between the Nigerian Army and the communities of Apunren-Ijebu and Ijebu-Mushin in Ijebu East Local Government Area has lasted for about 50 years.
A spokesperson for the communities, retired Major General Odunsi Samson, who is also the Jagunmolu of Ijebu-Imusin, said the problem started in 1977 after a military decree was issued to establish barracks across different states. He explained that Apunren-Ijebu and Ijebu-Mushin were chosen as possible locations.
He added that the affected area includes 16 communities that have lived peacefully for more than 600 years. These communities have schools, churches, mosques, hospitals, markets, and other important public facilities.
The report also said the dispute happened because the earlier decision to reduce the land given to the Army—from 1,820 acres to a much smaller area—was not properly recorded in official documents.
It was revealed that Nigerian Army officers have started occupying parts of the communities. There are reports of houses being demolished, farmlands being taken over, and historical and cultural sites, including schools, religious centers, graves, and shrines, being destroyed.
Fresh land markings showing areas planned for further demolition were also seen. Some old boundary pillars marking the original military land are still visible.
The Assembly recommended that the state government should meet with senior military leaders to review the earlier decision and put measures in place to stop further military encroachment into the affected villages.
After the resolution was passed, the Speaker instructed the Clerk of the House to send copies of the report and its recommendations to the State Governor and other relevant authorities, including federal ministries, leaders of the National Assembly, and heads of security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army, for necessary action.
