Apunren-Ijebu Residents Seek Justice as Army Demolitions Trigger Humanitarian Crisis

The ancient Apunren-Ijebu community in Ogun State is calling for urgent intervention following weeks of demolitions by the Nigerian Army, which have left residents traumatised, homeless, and fearful for their safety. On Saturday, 11 January 2026, Senator Gbenga Daniel visited the community to address the ongoing crisis, meeting with leaders and residents from the sixteen affected communities.

Decades-Long Land Dispute

AdeOluwa Adenaike, Secretary-General of Apunren-Ijebu, recounted a history of unresolved land disputes dating back to 1977, when surveyors marked approximately 1,791 acres of land for the Nigerian Army without consulting the residents, then numbering over 7,000. The Baales’ council rejected the move, refused compensation, and placed a traditional curse on collaborators.

Subsequent attempts at resolution included dialogue with military authorities under General T.Y. Danjuma, which restricted the Army to land needed for a single regiment and resettled displaced families in good faith. However, the crisis resurfaced in 1989 when a government gazette allegedly claimed 13 of Apunren-Ijebu’s 16 communities.

Human Tragedy Unfolds

Adenaike described the situation as “beyond land dispute—it is a human tragedy.” Residents reported soldiers and army-linked contractors entering communities with weapons, digging trenches, demolishing homes, destroying a church, and chasing farmers from their fields. Fear has become pervasive, with abandoned farms, widespread hunger, and reports of trauma-related deaths, including that of Baale Chief Bashola Akibu Omotoso, who reportedly died after hearing of the demolitions.

“These are not stories. These are graves we can show you,” Adenaike said, highlighting the emotional and physical toll on the community. Young people are fleeing, while women sell whatever they can find to survive, and development in the area has come to a halt. Meanwhile, much of the Army’s original land remains largely unused.

Senator Daniel’s Intervention

Senator Daniel, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, acknowledged the dispute’s long history and assured residents that their ancestral land would not be lost. He confirmed presenting the community’s petition to the Senate, which has directed its committee to investigate within three weeks.

“I can assure you that issues pertaining to soldiers are not easy to tackle. However, now that our own son, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is President, the issue will be finally resolved,” Daniel said. He pledged to engage the Nigerian Army and halt further demolitions pending a legislative resolution, with both parties set to be summoned for dialogue when the Senate resumes on 27 January 2026.

Appeal for Calm

The Alapunren of Apunren, Oba Jimoh Oyelaja, urged residents to remain calm and avoid harming themselves over the property destruction. “Now that you’ve heard from the horse’s mouth, I appeal to you to calm down. Stop committing suicide because of your properties being destroyed by the army,” he said, expressing confidence in Senator Daniel’s commitment to resolving the matter.

While Senator Daniel’s visit brought renewed hope, uncertainty remains. For the Apunren-Ijebu community, the intervention marks another chapter in a nearly five-decade struggle, with faith placed in dialogue, legislative oversight, and political will to secure justice and restore peace to their ancestral land.

Akahi News www.akahinews.org