Inspector General of Police, Akin Egbetokun has been petitioned by the families of Chief Obamoluwa Moses Akinmade of Isalu Quarters, Odode-Idanre, and Mr. Idowu Akinwalerre of Yaba Quarters, Odode-Idanre, Ondo State over what they described as “forcible entry, malicious damage of their farmlands” allegedly by one Mr. Oyeniyi Aro (aka Onikoko).
In the petition, which was written through the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 17 Police Zonal Command, the families claimed that they had been farming on the farmlands for over 60 years without anyone challenging their ownership title of the said cocoa farmlands.
The petition written on behalf of the families by the attorney of the two families, Legal Comfort Associates, complained over alleged forcible entry, malicious damage and acts capable of causing breaching of the public peace and threats to life with violence against Mr. Aro and others.
According to the petition signed by O.S Akintububo Esq, of the Legal Comfort Associates, reads: “We are solicitors to Chief Obamoluwa Moses Akinmade of Isalu Quarters, Odode- Idanre, Ondo State and Mr. Idowu Akinwalere of Barracks Road, Yaba Quarters, Odode-Idanre, Ondo State (hereinafter referred to jointly as “Our Clients and we have their joint consent, authority and instructions to forward this petition to y exalted office in respect of the above-mentioned criminal complaints and/or allegations to wit
“That Our Clients are law abiding citizen who are predominantly farmers carrying out their farming activities peacefully at Agbara Oluwa Camp in Iidanre Local Government Area of Idanre, Ondo State (hereinafter referred to as “the Community”).
“That Our Clients who are predominantly cocoa farmers have their individual cocoa farmlands at Agbara Oluwa Camp, Idanre, Ondo State which is located in free area and conspicuously outside Government Forest Reserves and they have been carrying out their farming activities thereon for over 60 years without anyone challenging their ownership title of the said cocoa farmlands.
“That it therefore came as a rude shock to Our Clients when one Mr. Oyeniyi Aro (aka Onikoko) led some hoodlums and forcibly entered the cocoa farmlands of Our Clients after which they caused irreparable damages to the cocoa trees thereon even as they cut economic trees belonging to Our Clients worth millions of naira on the farmlands claiming that the said farmlands are located in Government Forest Reserve purportedly located on Akure land and which was purportedly allocated to him by Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“That it may interest you to know sir that Our Clients lodged a criminal complaint of forcible entry and malicious damage against the said Mr. Oyeniyi Aro (aka Onikoko) at Idanre Divisional Police Headquarters, Olofin, Idanre and he was promptly arrested even as he insisted before the police that the entire Agbara Oluwa Camp, Idanre was within the Government Reserve Area purportedly allocated to him by Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
“That consequently, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Idanre Divisional Police Headquarters, Olofin, Idanre referred the matter to Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for discreet investigation as to whether the entire Agbara Oluwa Camp, Idanre where Our Clients’ farmlands fals within Government Reserve Area purportedly allocated to the said Mr. Oyeniyi Aro (aka Onikoko) and upon discreet investigation by officials of the Ministry which includes visiting the area, it has been firmly established that Agbara Oluwa Camp, Idanre and its environs are by no means near any Government Forest Reserve purportedly allocated to the said Mr. Oyeniyl Aro (aka Onikoko). Copy of the Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry dated 28th May, 2024 is hereby attached and marked Exhibit “A”.
“That said Mr. Oyeniyi Aro (aka Onikoko) and his hoodlums who committed the criminal offence of forcible entry on Our Clients farmlands maliciously damaged properties belonging to Our Client such as cocoa trees and other economic trees worth several millions of naira.
“That the said Mr. Oyeniyi Aro (aka Onikoko) and his hoodlums are still threatening the lives of Our Clients with violence even as they are threatening to return back to the farmlands cause more damages and that if Our Clients prevented him from carrying out his illegal they would be fatally attacked by his boys.
“We believe that Mr Oyeniyi Aro’s objective is to cause my aged father to die prematurely. His actions have end my father a lot of health challenges and created anguish in my family.
“It has destroyed our age-long source of livelihood and created misery in the family.
“We lodged a criminal complaint on forceful entry and malicious damage against the said Mr. Oyeniyi Aro at Idanre Divisional Police Headquarters, Olofin, Idanre, and also reported the matter to the AIG Zone 17 in Ondo State.
“It is in view of the above stated facts that this petition is forwarded to your exalted office with a view to arresting the culprits and to conduct discreet and thorough investigation into the above stated criminal allegations and to charge the culprits to court if found culpable.”