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Tag: Ondo Farmers

  • Ondo farmers protest at Governor’s Office over alleged assault

    Ondo farmers protest at Governor’s Office over alleged assault

    Peasant farmers from the government forest reserves in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday protested alleged harassment and assaults on their farms.

    The farmers accused Mr Damilola Olowoniyi, described as a government-backed agent, of intimidation, assault and disrupting their access to farms.

    The Nation reports that armed with placards, the protesting farmers marched to the Governor’s Office, demanding urgent intervention.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Adesoji Awotale said despite being legally allocated portions of the forest reserve by the state government, the farmers had been subjected to continuous harassment.

    Awotale said the conflict escalated after the government sold about 10,000 hectares in the OA3A section of Oluwa Forest Reserve to a private investor, SAO.

    He said the development prompted protests from long-time occupants, who had cultivated the land for over two decades with cash crops.

    He added that following the protests, the government ceded 2,000 hectares to three affected communities, including Irore Ajelanwa, which received 261 hectares backed by verified government documents.

    Read Also: Farmer debunks allegations of land grabbing, cultism in Ondo

    Awotale said the farmers had been paying annual dues ranging from N2 million to N3 million and were preparing to renew payments before the alleged attacks escalated.

    “We have been paying our annual dues in millions and were even planning to pay this year’s dues before December 15. But we feel we cannot continue to be oppressed, threatened and marginalised on the small piece of land we occupy,” he said.

    He said complaints had been sent to the Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police and even the Inspector-General of Police, but they had yielded no action.

    “We went to the National Assembly too to seek intervention, but a scheduled meeting did not hold due to the absence of a key representative. We are now arranging for another meeting,” Awotale said.

    He lamented that many elderly farmers, aged between 60 and 80, had abandoned their farms for fear of attacks, describing the situation as inhumane and economically-devastating for families who depended on the crops for survival.

    Addressing the protesters, Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olaleye Akinola, assured them that the government had acknowledged their grievances.

    He said the government had invited Olowoniyi to a meeting to address the issues and grievances of the farmers.

    “We have convened a meeting with Olowoniyi holding tomorrow, where we will all sit together with representatives from your side. I can assure you that the government will do something about it,” he said.

    Efforts to reach Olowoniyi for his reaction proved abortive, as his line was not connecting at press time.

  • Cocoa farmers protest Ondo’s new forest policy

    Cocoa farmers protest Ondo’s new forest policy

    Concerned cocoa farmers operating in the forest reserve of Idanre and Akure in Ondo State, have kicked against the newly proposed Forest Farming Policy introduced by the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led administration.

    Their protest was contained in a letter dated October 30, 2025, signed by their legal counsel, Prof. Olugbenga Oke-Samuel, Principal Partner of Lawville Legal Practice, Akure, and obtained by The Nation on Tuesday.

    It was gathered that under the proposed policy, farmers cultivating cocoa within forest areas are required to pay N250,000 per hectare, comprising N150,000 for polygon mapping and N100,000 for agro-forestry, with a five-year farming permit.

    The initiative, according to government officials, was introduced in line with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

    However, the aggrieved farmers described the new charges as “unreasonably high, discriminatory, and financially burdensome,” warning that the policy could cripple cocoa production and push thousands of smallholder farmers into economic hardship.

    They noted that the policy comes at a time when the cocoa market is already under severe stress, with prices reportedly plunging from N14,000 to N6,000 per kilogram.

    The farmers also complained that the Ministry of Agriculture recently raised the cocoa grading fee from N11,000 per tonne to a rate that translates to N22,000 per kilogram – amounting to about N660,000 per trailer of cocoa.

    “Our members are smallholders. They are being asked to shoulder costs that even big investors would struggle with,” the petition read.

    The farmers reminded the government that they already pay N20,000 per hectare under the existing arrangement, saying it was their commitment to environmental compliance using the forest. 

    Read Also: Protest rocks FUOYE as NYCN demands VC’s suspension

    They questioned why the state could not subsidize the mapping exercise, pointing out that exporters currently conduct mapping for free in non-forest communities and sometimes provide incentives to farmers.

    “The N100,000 levy for tree planting is excessive. A measure of seeds capable of producing 1,000 trees costs only N5,000. This raises concerns about the fairness and transparency of the Agro-Forestry component,” the letter reads. 

    The farmers further alleged disparity in treatment, noting that while smallholders are restricted to five-year permits, large-scale investors enjoy long-term leases at significantly lower costs per hectare.

    They cited examples such as: JB Farms Ltd (Ore-Otutule Forest Reserve) – 14,000 hectares, 50-year permit, N50 million annually (N3,572/ha), SAO Agro Ltd – 10,000 hectares, 80-year permit, N20 million annually (N2,000/ha) and Tropic Palm Oil Ltd (Ute Owo Forest Reserve) – 14,000 hectares, 40-year permit, N30 million annually (N2,150/ha)

    “Cocoa trees have a productive lifespan of over 40 years. It is unjust to restrict indigenous farmers – many of whom were previously unemployed – to a five-year permit while granting investors decades-long access,” the letter stated.

    The farmers pleaded with Aiyedatiwa to review the N250,000 levy per hectare and extend the permit duration to at least 50 years to enable them benefit from their long-term investments.

    They, however, called for a review of agro-forestry charges to reflect actual market costs of tree planting and demanded government subsidy for polygon mapping to aid compliance with the EUDR.

    “Your Excellency, our clients believe in your commitment to equity, sustainability, and inclusive development. We trust that you will consider their plight and act in the interest of fairness and economic justice,” it added. 

  • BREAKING: Ondo farmers regain freedom five days after abduction

    BREAKING: Ondo farmers regain freedom five days after abduction

    Seven local farmers abducted in the Itaogbolu axis of Akure North Local Government Area in Ondo State have regained freedom after spending five harrowing days in captivity, the Nation just learnt. 

    The farmers were freed on Wednesday night, according to sources close to the victims. 

    “It is true. They [farmers] have been set free and released to their families,” one of the sources told our reporter on Friday morning. 

    He revealed that the seven farmers were set free along a forest in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, after the abductors had collected a ransom of N5 million and food items.

    “Some of them are now in the hospital where they’re receiving treatment due to the maltreatment they received while in the den of the kidnappers,” the source added. 

    Ayanlade Olayinka, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, was not immediately available for comment when contacted on Friday morning. 

    A text message sent to his official lines to seek reaction was yet to be delivered as of the time of this report. 

    However, a security source in the State Police Command, who does not want to be identified, confirmed the release of farmers in a terse to our reporter. 

    Read Also: Ondo farmers vow to protect livelihood

    The farmers were reportedly seized over the weekend while harvesting palm fruits on their farmland when the assailants struck.

    Family sources had claimed that the kidnappers contacted them and asked for N100 million ransom for the release of the abductees.

    In the midst of the negotiation with the victims’ families, the abductors reduced the ransom to N20 million. 

    Following the incident, operatives of the Amotekun Corps who were on a mission to rescue the farmers came under heavy attack in the hands of the marauders who opened fire and injured three officials. 

    Details Shortly…

  • Farmers protest seizure of farmland

    Farmers protest seizure of farmland

    Farmers from 24 communities in Ondo West Local Government have continued their week-long protest over takeover of their farmlands by the state government.

    Their farmlands were reported leased to a Chinese firm.

    The farmers, who blocked Benin-Ore highway, listed some of the affected communities and camps to include Aosho, Ulugba, Adejori, Kabiyesi, Lafa, Oloruntedo, Obadore Yinka, Keseomi, Lomofe, Gbekelu, Langbodo, Abuja, Lopaun, Sahara, Aba Cocoa, Topeu, Bolorunduro, Iyolope and Yemisi.

    They said they are into cultivation of cocoa, palm oil, cashew and other cash crops.

    Read Also: Power sector worse off 12 years after privatisation – NLC

    The protesters said it was inhumane for the state government to hijack their source of livelihood from them.

    A former Secretary of Ondo West Local Government, Alhaji Oluwole Bashiru, who spoke on behalf of the protesters,  begged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to correct the wrongs perpetrated  by his predecessor.

    Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, thanked the farmers for carrying out a peaceful protest and asked them to document their grievances and attach pictorial evidence for proper action to be taken.