Insecurity: Ekiti Govt Orders Evacuation of Illegal Farmland Occupants in Ilejemeje
The Ekiti State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to non-indigenes illegally occupying farmland and a border area between Isan Ekiti and Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area.
The directive, aimed at preventing security breaches and forestalling possible infiltration, was given by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, while mediating in a land dispute between the two communities at her office in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
The intervention followed a petition by the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, who raised concerns over the alleged allocation of the disputed land to unknown persons, warning that their presence could heighten insecurity in the area.
Mrs Afuye stated that with rising incidents of kidnapping and banditry across the country, it would be dangerous to allow individuals whose backgrounds are unknown to settle or farm in sensitive areas of the state. She directed traditional rulers of both communities to ensure immediate compliance with the order.
“We will not wait for lives to be lost before taking action. The occupants must vacate the area within seven days,” she warned.
She also assured that the state’s boundary technical committee would visit the area for proper demarcation.
While Oba Awolola commended the government’s action and accused the occupants of illegal activities such as charcoal production, the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, maintained that the farmers had already been instructed to leave after the 2025 farming season and pledged full compliance with the government’s directive.
A journalist with a speciality in politics, judiciary, and investigation for in-depth stories as a correspondent, among others. He covers all segments of Ekiti State, providing a platform for the people to air their views on issues affecting them.
