Prince David Kolawole Adeleke Oguntade, speaking on behalf of the Sodeinde, Oguntade, Adegbuyi, and Onawoga families, has appealed to the Ogun State Government to step into an escalating land dispute involving the four families and the Baale of Odofin Oke-Rala Village in Makun, Sagamu, Mr. Nasiru Adekunle Sodeinde.

Addressing journalists on Monday, Omoba Oguntade expressed deep concern over what he described as the Baale’s misuse of authority. He accused Mr. Nasiru who is also a member of the extended family of using his position to oppress other branches of the lineage and assume sole control over the family’s land.

According to him, the Baale stationed land grabbers at the entrance of a 300-acres farmland without informing any member of the family. He said several family members were denied access to the land during routine farming activities. The matter was subsequently taken before HRH Oba Timothy Oyeola Akinsanya (Orungba II), the Ewusi of Makun Kingdom, who ordered the Baale to remove the self-acclaimed security operatives.

Despite this directive, Omoba Oguntade alleged that portions of the land had already been sold to unknown individuals, who have since fenced off about twenty acres, claiming legitimate purchase.

Supporting the claims, Mr. Sokoya Hassan Taiwo of the Adegbuyi family said he was coerced into signing documents he did not understand. He narrated how the Baale invited him under the pretext of meeting the family lawyer, only to take him to an unfamiliar office belonging to individuals identified as Mogaji and Alowonle. There, he found himself surrounded by armed land grabbers who compelled him to sign documents on behalf of the Adegbuyi branch of the family.

Sokoya said he later informed the family of the incident, and efforts to obtain copies of the documents allegedly signed for “loan purposes” from the Baale have been unsuccessful. Instead, the families later discovered that the disputed land had been fenced by individuals claiming to have purchased it.

The affected families are urging the Ogun State Government to intervene urgently, protect them from what they describe as intimidation and illegal land dealing, and compel all involved including Mogaji and Alowonle to explain the circumstances under which they took possession of parts of the farmland.

All efforts to reach the Ewusi of Makun Kingdom for comments were unsuccessful as at press time with text message sent to him through our correspondent on Friday.