Tension escalated in Ibese town, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Saturday as residents staged a peaceful protest against what they described as a deliberate and politically backed attempt to encroach on their ancestral land, with the establishment of Frontier Radio 102.9 FM sparking outrage.
At least 30 residents marched through the streets carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop False Territorial Claims,” “No to Encroachment,” “Ibese United Against Encroachment,” and “Frontier FM and Hotel Should Not Trespass Ibese.”
Addressing journalists, Mr. Luqman Alagbe, General Secretary of the Ibese Youth Association, alleged that the owner of Frontier Hotel, described as a politically connected figure, deployed security operatives—including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Amotekun Corps—to intimidate protesters attempting to demonstrate in front of the hotel.
The community accused Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro, of repeatedly writing to Yewa South Local Government claiming that UAMC Eleja Primary School, located within Ibese territory, belongs to Ilaro.
The protesters described these claims as “historically baseless and administratively misleading,” asserting that Ibese has long-standing, well-documented boundaries shared only with Ijanna, while Ijanna—not Ibese—borders Ilaro.
Residents alleged that a major road construction project at the disputed boundary was abruptly suspended under political influence, reportedly with support from Senator Olamilekan Adeola Solomon, popularly known as YAYI, as part of a broader effort to pressure Ibese into conceding its land.
The immediate trigger of the protest, however, was the emergence of Frontier Radio 102.9 FM, reportedly operating from Frontier Hotel, an establishment the community insists sits squarely on Ibese soil.
Despite this, the radio station has been publicly marketing its location as “Ilaro,” a move residents described as “a blatant misrepresentation of geographical fact” and “a deliberate attempt to legitimize land grabbing.”
“This is a direct assault on our historical identity and a threat to official records, digital maps, commercial listings, and public perception,” the community said in a position document released to journalists.
The Ibese community stressed that it possesses documentary evidence, traditional land records, maps, and administrative documents to support its claims and invited journalists to independently verify them.
Residents called on the Ogun State Government, the Boundary Commission, relevant ministries, and security agencies to halt the alleged territorial rebranding, investigate all individuals and institutions involved, and sanction anyone promoting misleading or provocative claims.
Despite emphasizing their commitment to peace, community leaders warned that failure to address the rising tension could trigger avoidable communal unrest.
“We honour authority and uphold peace, but we will not fold our arms while our ancestral identity is being erased,” one protest leader said.
The Frontier Radio 102.9 FM issue, they noted, is the final trigger that has brought the community to this point. Ibese residents reiterated that they would not allow their ancestral lands to be taken, their community identity erased, or their territory falsely attributed to another kingdom.
Luqman Alagbe, General Secretary of the Ibese Youths Association, concluded: “We stand united, firm, and ready to defend our heritage through legitimate, lawful, and transparent means.”
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