Metro

Ekiti: Farmers Threaten To Invoke Ancestral Powers Over Government Failure To Pay Compensation On Lands Acquired For Airport

Published

4 years ago

October 18, 2021

No fewer than 1,000 farmers across five communities in Ekiti State on Monday protested and demanded for compensation for their farms acquired by the State Government for the ongoing construction of the agro-allied cargo port.

The farmers, mostly the aged and widows who came from Ijan igbogun, Aso, Igbemo, and Orun Bolorunduro communities to the airport ground located along Ado-Ijan road, pleaded with the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to consider their plights and investment on their farm lands and pay them compensation as promised.

The protesting farmers who carried placards with different inscriptions threatened to stop work at the airport site by invoking ancestral powers if government fails to pay their compensation within the next seven days.

Some of the inscriptions read, ‘Ekiti Assembly please come to our aide,’ ‘Governor Fayemi should pay our money without delay; ‘The farmers cry for help’ ; We need commission for our land acquired by govt’ among others.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved farmers, Mr Osho Olorunfemi lamented that the over 1,000 farmers from the five affected communities whose land were acquired for the airport have lost huge amount of money in investment on the crops, calling on the governor to urgently address their grievances and pay them the compensation.

Olorunfemi revealed that failure of the government to effect the payment within the next seven days would leave the farmers with no other option than to storm the site and invoke spiritual power on the land.

According to him, ” it is government that said people should embrace farming but here we are now, after so much investment on cocoa, plantain, cassava, palm tree and other crops, government came to destroy them.

” Since March this year, we have been on this issue but nothing is forthcoming, all we hear is promise and assurance since then. We are tired of promise, we need our money to start life again because we are completely down at the moment. We are aware some persons have been paid but not all of us.

”We are giving the government a seven-day ultimatum for them to pay us and if they default, we will be here on the airport site to do the needful and whatever happens after, we should not be blamed.”

Addressing the protesters, the coordinator of the airport project, Mr Bunmi Awotikun advised the affected farmers to embrace peace, assuring them that government was attending to their demands and that they would soon be paid.

”I am not against your protest but let me assure you on behalf of the governor that nobody with a farm there ,that we won’t pay. Your money will be paid , I can assure you. I will present your case to the governor for appropriate action. You should remain calm and embrace peace in demanding for your rights,” he said.

(DAILY POST)

Metro

JUST IN: Fire Guts Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone In Igbesa

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Editor

A fire broke out on Sunday at the Ogun State Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa.

As of this report, there has been no official statement on what caused the incident. However, a resident said the fire was triggered by a gas explosion from a foam-producing company in the industrial park.

The source added that the fire spread quickly, affecting nearby houses before emergency responders arrived.

Details later…

Metro

AAU Postpones Resumption Date

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved, on behalf of the university’s Senate, the postponement of students’ resumption and commencement of academic activities.

In a statement,
Otunba Mike Aladenika,
Head, Information, Public Relations & Protocol, AAU, said the decision became necessary to enable the university to complete ongoing renovation works on student structures and facilities, aimed at enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience.

“According to him, the management is committed to providing a conducive environment for academic excellence and believes that this temporary adjustment will ultimately benefit our students.

“While the university management intends to announce a new resumption date, any student(s) still in our hostels are advised to vacate with immediate effect to allow for effective ongoing renovation works

“In light of this development, the university regrets to announce that the 140th Inaugural Lecture, originally scheduled for Thursday, 15th January 2026, and ongoing examinations have been postponed.

“A new date for the lecture and the completion of the examinations will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course.

“The university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of students, parents, and guardians on this matter.

“We urge all students to adhere to the new resumption date and prepare for a productive academic session.

“Parents and guardians are kindly requested to ensure their children/wards are aware of and comply with the revised resumption schedule.”

Metro

Protest Rocks Ekpoma Over Incessant Kidnapping

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday protested against incessant kidnappings in the area.

Ekpoma, in recent times has been under attack by kidnappers who snatched residents from their homes.

The protest grounded commercial activities as students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, also joined in the protest.

The protesters, in anger, also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections mounted in the university hosting town.

Speaking on the protest, Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma.

According to him, the kidnappers would be chased away from the area in no distance time.

Also reacting to the protest, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, dismissed was top of the security situation in Ekpoma, adding the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in Ekpoma.

Ikoedem said nine persons who were kidnapped on Friday were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

“In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.

“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.

“The victims, including five children were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State,” she said.