The Ekiti State Government has issued a stern warning to landowners in the state, cautioning against the arbitrary sale of farmlands, which it said has been a primary cause of violent disputes in several communities.
Deputy Governor Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye made this statement on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti while mediating a land dispute between Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government and Isan Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area.
The conflict arose from a petition by landowners from Ilale Quarters in Isan Ekiti, accusing residents of Ilije and Eda Odo in Eda Oniyo of encroaching on lands at Igbo-Ero farmstead, a shared border area between the towns.
In her address, Afuye directed the Ekiti State Boundary Technical Committee to conduct a thorough demarcation of the disputed lands. She urged the parties involved to prioritize peace and avoid letting personal interests spark further discord.
“It is disheartening that indiscriminate land sales by farmers and landowners have caused these tensions. If your ancestors acted similarly, you wouldn’t have inherited these lands to argue over today. This practice must stop,” Afuye stressed.
The Deputy Governor commended the traditional rulers from both communities for preventing violence while pledging the government’s commitment to resolving the issue amicably.
Representatives of the feuding communities presented their cases during the meeting. The Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, blamed Eda Oniyo farmers for the crisis, accusing them of selling lands belonging to his people, forcing Isan farmers to encroach on upland territories.
Conversely, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, countered that historical evidence showed Isan Ekiti farmers had paid royalties to Eda Oniyo for using the contested land. He expressed confidence that proper demarcation would ease tensions and restore harmony between the towns.
The Ekiti State Government reiterated its commitment to resolving land disputes to promote peace and stability across the state.
