Cocoa farmers from the Oluwa forest reserve in Ondo State protested in Akure against the state government’s alleged sale of their farmland to a private company linked to public officials. The farmers, who have cultivated the land for over 30 years and paid dues to the government, claimed the sale threatens their livelihood amid widespread hunger.
Led by Abayomi Rotimi, the protesters revealed that the company has begun uprooting their cocoa, kola nut, palm trees, and other crops. The farmers, numbering over 10,000, occupy eight camps and have planted over two million cocoa trees and various other crops on 2,000 acres.
The farmers have filed a lawsuit against the Ondo State government and the private company, ACME Palms Limited, alleging the forced eviction from their rented farmlands. Their lawyer, Tope Temokun, criticized the outright sale of the forest reserve land, highlighting potential conflicts of interest and shady deals.
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He pointed out that ACME Palms Limited, incorporated in July 2020, purchased the land in 2021, with a Certificate of Occupancy granted by the state government.
Temokun noted that ACME Mercury Limited, a major shareholder in ACME Palms Limited, is owned by a government official and his son, raising concerns about the integrity of the land sale process. The farmers demand the government reconsider the sale and protect their means of livelihood.
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