- Epe Farmers Accuse Army Of Seizing Farmlands, Seek Sanwo-Olu’s Intervention
- Says Military Seizure Of Farmland Has Left Members Destitute
- Seek Compensation, Fresh Land
A group of commercial farmers in Epe area of Lagos State has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in an ongoing dispute involving their farmlands and the Nigerian Army.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the farmers, operating under the Afero Commercial Farmers group, said they have been struggling for survival since soldiers allegedly took over their farmland about three years ago.
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Speaking during a press conference where they submitted a petition to the governor, the chairman of the group, Wale Oyekoya, said the affected farmers had suffered huge financial losses and emotional hardship.
According to him, the land in dispute was allocated to them in 2015 by the administration of former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, after their original farmland in Afero community was acquired for the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport project.
Oyekoya explained that the farmers accepted the relocation in support of development plans, only to later face another displacement.
“This is the third year since the military allegedly took over the farms, despite the land being allocated to us by the Lagos State Government,” he said.
The group claimed several attempts to resolve the matter through mediation and government intervention had not yielded results. They also alleged that officials sent by the state government to inspect the farms were denied access by military personnel.
According to the farmers, the state government eventually relied on drone footage to assess the level of damage on the land.
The farmers estimated their losses at over N3 billion, stating that they were preparing for harvest across more than 1,000 acres of active farmland before the incident.
They said their businesses covered poultry, fish farming, piggery, oil palm and rubber plantations, cold rooms, ranches and processing facilities.
The group further alleged that livestock were released and several properties destroyed during the takeover.
Oyekoya noted that many of the affected farmers are retirees and professionals, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants and former security personnel who invested personal savings, pensions and bank loans into farming.
He added that some members are now battling health challenges, while others risk losing properties used as collateral for loans.
“Two of our members have died, while others are currently receiving treatment due to stress-related health issues,” he said.
In their petition to the governor, the farmers urged the Lagos State Government to urgently review and act on the report of a committee earlier set up to investigate the matter.
They also requested another parcel of land, noting that the disputed Epe farmland was already the third relocation site given to them following previous government acquisitions.
Despite the situation, the farmers said they still preferred dialogue instead of litigation.
“We want the governor to succeed. Not every issue should end up in court,” Oyekoya stated, while also linking the matter to concerns over food security and agricultural development in the state.
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