Three Ogun communities; Ladesuwasi, Jagun Beluwo and Maleke, located along Oba Erinwole Road in Sagamu Local Government Area—have petitioned the Public Complaints Commission over alleged illegal occupation of communal farmlands, police intimidation, and harassment of residents.

In a jointly signed petition, community representatives including Mr. Oladipupo, Mr. Olutayo Ogunyemi, Alhaji Suleiman Ofunyin, Alhaji Poku Bowale, and Prince Oluwaseun Opaleye (for Ladesuwasi); Samson Sotunbo and Mike Sotunbo (for Maleke); and Mr. Samson Awofeso and Ahmed Shittu (for Jagun Beluwo), accused one Mr. Kolawole Adedayo Erinle of forceful encroachment on their lands.

According to the petition obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, Mr. Erinle allegedly purchased only four acres of land from the Maleke family in 2019 but went on to fence off more than 200 acres, extending into lands belonging to Ladesuwasi and Jagun Beluwo communities.

The communities further alleged that Erinle, currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in connection with a $1.4 million fraud case prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), deployed police officers to forcibly take control of the disputed land.

“Despite being incarcerated, Mr. Erinle continues to coordinate police operations on the land,” the petition claimed. “These officers have been stationed on the property for over six years, intimidating residents and enabling land grabbers to unlawfully sell and occupy our land.”

The petition also stated that repeated complaints to the Sagamu Area Commander and the Ogun State Police Command in Abeokuta have yielded no tangible response.

“Farming and construction activities have been halted,” the communities lamented. “Anyone attempting to assert ownership rights is harassed, assaulted, or arrested. Our people live in fear, and it appears some police officers have been compromised.”

The petition concluded with a plea to the Public Complaints Commission to urgently intervene and restore peace, law, and order in the affected areas.

When contacted, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed that the command was aware of the matter.

“The command is already investigating the allegations,” he said. “I have directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to look into the case.”