Members of the Concerned Land Owners’ Association of Igbesa Town, Ogun State, have protested against the management of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone, largely occupied by Chinese companies, alleging the forceful encroachment and acquisition of 158 hectares of land, as well as the demolition of houses, farms, and other amenities in the process.
The protesters, in their large numbers, congregated recently and marched peacefully along Captain David Road in Igbesa, carrying placards to express their grievances against the Chinese companies, whom they alleged have systematically encroached on their land since 2017. They accused the companies of using armed mobile policemen, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), armed thugs, and various forms of intimidation to forcefully take over land beyond what was officially allotted to them in 2007.
In a peaceful procession, singing songs of solidarity, the protesters marched alongside journalists to the land they claimed had been taken forcefully. They pointed to areas where houses, cottage industries, livestock farms, farmlands, schools, religious places, and other structures once stood but have since been destroyed by caterpillars working for the Chinese companies.
Speaking with newsmen, some of the protesters explained that they had innocently purchased portions of the land to build residences, business offices, farms, or other ventures but had lost it to the Guangdong Free Trade Zone operated by these Chinese companies.
Alhaji Mukaila Alao, a blockmaker, said, “This is not the first place where I have bought land for my block-making business. I always conduct due diligence and obtain all necessary information about a piece of land before purchasing it. I ensure I receive all the required official documents before buying. I did the same before buying this land in Igbesa, which was free from any form of encumbrance according to government records, and I paid for it.
“It is, therefore, surprising that the Chinese, in a wanton desire to expand their business space, have forcefully taken over the land. This is very crude. How can an international organisation act in such a manner, disregarding the feelings of the poor who are trying to eke out a living for themselves?”
Pastor Durodola Ayokanmi, a gospel minister whose family home was also affected, decried the actions of the Chinese companies, accusing them of having no fear of God.
He lamented the plight of those who lost their lives during the struggle, stating, “We have gone back and forth to Abeokuta to the Land Survey Bureau, approached the courts, made appeals, suffered several attacks, and faced intimidation while trying to regain the lands. We stood our ground until now, when the Chinese companies arrived with armed policemen and military personnel to carry out the demolitions you see happening.”
Honourable Ajose Solomon, the Chairman of the Association, who spoke on behalf of the group during the protest, said: “In 2007, a delegation from the administration of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, led by the then Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salimot Badiru, visited the Igbesa community at the Oba’s Palace to appeal for land to establish the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
“We initially resisted, but after extensive consultations and appeals that lasted for months, we agreed to release part of our land. We accompanied government surveyors to a specific area that was marked out, a survey was conducted, and it resulted in 250 hectares.
“The same delegation visited neighbouring villages known as Ejila-Awori, who agreed to give 398.489 hectares. Crop enumeration was conducted by the government, and compensation was paid.
“Subsequently, the Chinese companies operating the Guangdong Free Trade Zone took possession of the acquired land, demarcating boundaries by digging trenches and, in some areas, using wire fencing. They designated the Ejila-Awori land as Phase 1, comprising 398.489 hectares, and the Igbesa land as Phase 2.
“There were no issues until 2017, when these Chinese companies crossed into our remaining land, encroaching on our farmland, destroying both cash and food crops, closing roads, and posting demolition orders on our structures.
“When we approached the Chinese companies about the encroachment, they claimed they had a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for 2,000 hectares, asserting that OPIC (Ogun State Investment Corporation) transferred the acquired land to them. We asked to see the gazette of the purported acquisition, including the survey used in the transfer of ownership, but none was provided.
“We, therefore, resisted their attempts to acquire more land. The Chinese companies mobilised officers of the Nigerian Police Force to forcefully take over our farmland. They also submitted fraudulent petitions to the police headquarters in Abuja, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, DSS Abeokuta, and the task force in Abeokuta, leading to frequent police arrests of aggrieved landowners.”
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