Farmers in communities surrounding the Oluwa forest in Ore Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State woke up one April morning to the sound of bulldozers and earth-moving equipment clearing their cocoa, cola nut, oil palm, and plantain farms. SAO Agro Allied Services Limited, a private organization, had bought their farmlands from the state government and was destroying them to make way for oil palm cultivation as part of a Central Bank of Nigeria initiative. Despite promises of support and new cocoa seedlings, the farmers were neither consulted nor compensated for their losses.
In response, the affected farmers protested in Akure, the state capital, demanding justice. They filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to stop further destruction of their farmlands, which was granted by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye. However, the government and SAO Agro Allied Services ignored the court orders.
Similar protests erupted in other areas like Ondo West Local Government Area, where farmers protested against the takeover of their farmlands by Inkjet, a Chinese company. The farmers, who had made these lands their home for decades, were now facing displacement and financial ruin.
The impact of the destruction was devastating. Abiodun Idowu lost her infant child when she fell while pleading with the agents not to destroy her farm. Isiaka Oyekola, who had been farming cocoa for over 16 years, was left in despair as his livelihood was destroyed. Akintayo Adeolu, once a prosperous farmer, now struggled to feed his family and pay his child’s school fees.
The situation was dire for many farmers who relied on their farms for income. Some, like Odugbami Omolawa, were heavily indebted after borrowing money to fund their farming activities. Nurudeen Oladipupo described how formerly prosperous farmers were now reduced to begging for food, with nowhere to call home.
The farmers felt betrayed by the government, which had praised their contributions to the state’s economy but had now sold their lands without consultation. Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who had promised support and recognition for their efforts, was accused of selling their lands to investors without dialogue or consideration for their welfare.
The government’s response was inadequate, with farmers labeled as economic saboteurs. Despite promises from the current government to address the issue, the farmers continued to suffer without a resolution.
In summary, the destruction of farmlands in Ondo State has caused immense hardship for farmers who have lost their livelihoods and are now facing displacement and debt. The government’s failure to consult or compensate the affected farmers has deepened their sense of betrayal and frustration.