By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

Residents of Sagamu-Remo on Tuesday staged a protest to the palace of the Akarigbo of Remo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, CFR, over alleged cases of land grabbing and violent attacks on farmers and landowners in the area.

The protesters accused one Kamoru Lamino, popularly known as Sir Kay Oluwo, of killing, beating and forcefully chasing people away from their ancestral lands and farmlands.
The protest, which took place on Tuesday, February 2, drew men and women from several affected communities who marched peacefully to the palace to lay their complaints before the traditional ruler. Upon arrival, some palace chiefs came out to receive the protesters and assured them that their grievances would be conveyed to the Akarigbo for necessary action. As the Kabiyesi is not on sit.

Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, the Lisa of Ofin Remo, Chief Adeyemi Salami, acknowledged that land grabbing had become a widespread problem across the state. He said the issue had become particularly painful in Sagamu because land and farming constitute the primary means of livelihood for the affected people, forcing them to seek intervention from the palace.

Chief Salami disclosed that steps were already being taken to address the matter, including engagements that could extend to the Ogun State House of Assembly. He noted that relevant documents and petitions were being compiled for submission to the appropriate government authorities, stressing that lasting solutions rested largely with the government.

He further confirmed that the allegations brought before the palace were specifically against Sir Kay Oluwo, assuring the protesters that the traditional council would not ignore their cries and would follow up with the relevant authorities to ensure justice.

One of the protesters, Omotayo Adesanya, alleged that no fewer than 12 villages were under threat from the activities of the suspected land grabber. He claimed that residents of these villages had been attacked, beaten and chased away from their farmlands, adding that each of the affected communities has about 400 acres of land.

Adesanya further stated that the affected landowners possessed a Supreme Court judgment affirming their ownership of the lands. He added that the alleged land grabbing had affected prominent individuals, including Mr Abiodun Oriyomi, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Sagamu, noting that the matter had also been reported at the NUT Secretariat in Sagamu.

Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims, Oladipupo Orunmoku, who was allegedly shot during one of the attacks, said the incident occurred on October 23, 2025, at Laposho village. He claimed that Sir Kay confronted him on his family land for refusing money allegedly offered for its sale, and that after he insisted he could not betray his family, about 60 armed men allegedly invaded the land and opened fire on him.

The protesters appealed to the Ogun State Government, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Commissioner of Police, the Attorney General and security agencies to urgently intervene. They called for protection and justice, urging the authorities to rescue them from what they described as the violent activities of the alleged land grabber, Sir Kay Oluwo.