Ogun State House of Assembly has assured leaders and residents of Apunren and surrounding villages near Erunwon in Ijebu-North East and parts of Ijebu-East Local Government Areas that urgent steps would be taken to address tensions arising from military land acquisitions in the area.
The assurance was given by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, during an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities.
He pledged that the Assembly would compile its findings for presentation to the Governor and also engage both the Legislative and Executive arms of the Federal Government to achieve a permanent resolution.
Speaker Elemide explained that the dispute originated from incomplete documentation of an earlier review that had reduced the portion of land allocated to the Nigerian Army.
He commended the efforts of the members representing the constituencies, Honourables Oluwaseun Adesanya and Waliu Owode, and urged residents to remain peaceful while the matter is being addressed.
He further advised all affected communities to formally communicate with the House of Assembly, assuring that lawmakers would deliberate on the matter and issue resolutions to relevant authorities for necessary action.
Honourables Adesanya and Owode assured the people of a lasting resolution, encouraging calm and law-abiding behavior as efforts to resolve the dispute intensify.
The State Surveyor-General, Surveyor Oladele Ewulo, noted that his team had conducted an initial assessment and would carry out further investigations to guide stakeholders toward a sustainable solution.
Addressing the delegation, the Kabiyesi of Apunren Kingdom, Oba Jimson Owode Oyelaja, recalled that the communities had existed for over 600 years and expressed concern over recent demolitions, loss of lives, and destruction of properties linked to the disputed land acquisition.
He appealed for calm and expressed optimism that the lawmakers’ visit would bring relief.
Major General S. A. Odunsi (Rtd), in his presentation, explained that the dispute dates back to 1977 when ancestral lands were acquired by the military. A 1987 gazette controversially reinstated a larger expanse, leaving the communities in decades of uncertainty.
He urged the Assembly to treat the matter urgently, calling on government to make 2026 a “year of jubilee” for the affected people.
