By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Executive Director of the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA), Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak, has petitioned the Lagos State Government over the alleged violent takeover of a family property belonging to the children of late Alhaji Lateef Alabi Ola in Ikotun, Lagos State, calling for urgent intervention to halt what he described as persistent human rights violations and illegal land occupation.
Olaitan disclosed this in a petition dated Monday,19 January, 2026, addressed to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and received at the Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja.
According to the rights group, the petition seeks executive action against the Onikotun of Ikotun, Oba Abdulazeez Asiwaju Gbadabiu, who was accused of allegedly abusing his traditional authority to facilitate violent land grabbing in violation of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law, 2016.
The HURMA boss explained that the petition was filed on behalf of the children of the deceased landowner—Alhaji Opeyemi Ola, Alhaji Bola Ola, Dr. Mudathir Ola, and other members of the Ola family whose legally owned land and source of livelihood were allegedly forcefully taken over.
Providing background, Olaitan stated that the disputed land, measuring approximately 1.621 hectares, about four acres, is located along Abaranje Road, Ikotun, Lagos State.
He said the land was lawfully acquired in 1977 by the late Alhaji Lateef Alabi Ola from the Ijalemo Family of Ikotun Village, the acknowledged customary owners.
According to him, the acquisition was duly perfected through family receipts dated December 6 and 16, 1977, a duly executed indenture dated May 1, 1978, and registered survey plans numbered AK/L/62 (1978) and LAT68/L/86 (1986). He added that the deceased subsequently established Ola Farms on the land and remained in peaceful possession until his death, after which ownership devolved lawfully on his children.
However, Olaitan alleged that despite the clear provisions of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, armed land grabbers invaded Ola Farms on or about Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, chased away lawful occupants, and took over the property.
He noted that the occupation has continued despite repeated legal demands and a pending suit before the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division.
He further alleged that the takeover was carried out with the sponsorship and protection of the Onikotun of Ikotun, describing the alleged actions as a grave abuse of traditional authority, particularly as the victims are orphans.
According to him, the invasion resulted in the destruction of thousands of chickens and livestock, seizure of farm facilities, damage to economic trees and structures, and the alleged assault and unlawful detention of Mr. Bola Ola.
Olaitan warned that the alleged conduct threatens public order and undermines the authority of laws enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He stressed that traditional institutions are meant to protect the vulnerable, not facilitate their exploitation.
Consequently, HURMA called on the Lagos State Government to investigate the allegations, suspend the Onikotun pending investigation, enforce the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, remove all illegal occupants from the land, and ensure restitution and protection for the Ola family.
He described the case as a test of the state’s commitment to the rule of law and warned that failure to act could embolden land grabbers.
Narrating the family’s ordeal, a representative of the Ola family, Alhaji Opeyemi Ola, provided further details of the alleged incidents, particularly the involvement of the police and the escalation of the dispute.
Ola explained that the crisis began after the Onikotun allegedly petitioned the Zone 2 Police Command, accusing the family of encroaching on land.
He said officers from the Idimu Police Division, accompanied by uniformed policemen and suspected thugs, were deployed to the farm, where his elder brother, the Managing Director of Ola Farms, was allegedly bundled away.
According to him, his brother was first taken to the Idimu Police Station and later transferred to Zone 2, where he was interrogated.
Ola stated that due to severe beating, his brother could barely speak during the interrogation.
He alleged that the Assistant Commissioner of Police handling the matter instructed them not to return to the farm, stating that they had no right to be there.
Ola said it was after that directive that individuals allegedly linked to the Onikotun took over the farm completely.
He added that when the family later returned to Zone 2 Police Command to report their own complaint, they were allegedly dismissed, despite explaining that his brother’s inability to speak was due to the injuries he sustained.
He further disclosed that after a change in leadership at Zone 2, the family petitioned the new Assistant Inspector General of Police, who ordered a reinvestigation.
However, Ola said the investigation failed to progress because the officer assigned to it had previously handled the matter.
He alleged that during an attempt to revisit the farm, the family was forcibly thrown out and denied access.
Ola stated that on another occasion, police officers accompanied him to the farm after the family reported the presence of thugs.
He said the suspected thugs fled on sighting the police. However, shortly after, he alleged that he was attacked again while attempting to photograph a white vehicle he had earlier seen at the farm gate.
According to Ola, the assailants beat him, seized his phone, and took away land documents he was carrying.
He said the police later intervened after being unable to reach him on his phone, eventually arresting the owner of the vehicle, who was later identified as the son of the Onikotun.
He added that all parties were taken to the Idimu Police Station, where statements were recorded.
Despite several follow-ups, Ola said the police case failed to progress meaningfully, prompting the family to institute a suit at the Lagos State High Court.
He disclosed that although the Onikotun allegedly filed a counter-suit, it was later withdrawn while the family’s case remains pending, with the next hearing scheduled for Thursday, 30 April, 2026.
Ola further revealed that the Onikotun has already constructed a storey building on the disputed land and has allegedly indicated plans to build more. He said the building was publicly commissioned late last year.
While the Onikotun was not initially joined in the suit due to lack of direct evidence, Ola stated that the family now intends to formally join him in the case, citing what he described as abundant evidence of his role in masterminding the alleged land grabbing.
He maintained that the family remains hopeful of justice, stressing that their father lawfully occupied the land from 1977 until his death in 2010, after which harassment allegedly began against his brother, who managed the farm.
