The Ogun State House of Assembly has stepped into the escalating land dispute between residents of Apunren-Ijebu and the Nigerian Army, following protests over alleged mass demolitions carried out by soldiers from the Ilese Army Sappers Barracks.
During an oversight visit to the affected communities on Tuesday, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, declared that preliminary findings point to serious lapses in land acquisition procedures and warned that the legislature would intervene decisively to protect residents.
Elemide acknowledged that while land was originally acquired for military use in the late 1970s, subsequent reductions agreed with host communities were never formally documented or gazetted—creating a legal vacuum now fueling the crisis. He stressed that under the Land Use Act, all land acquisitions must be processed through the state government with proper compensation and clear demarcation.
“With no gazette, no fencing, and no documented acquisition, the people remain the lawful owners of this land,” the Speaker said, describing the situation as one demanding “urgent legislative action.”
He assured residents that the Assembly would escalate the matter to the Ogun State Government, the National Assembly, and relevant federal authorities, adding that lawmakers were prepared to cut short their recess to pass a resolution if necessary.
“This House was elected to defend its people. We will take this matter to every authority required until justice is done,” Elemide said.
Despite the Assembly’s intervention, reporters observed that perimeter fencing and demolitions were still ongoing across the disputed area. Homes, the community palace, a church vicarage, an IDP camp, and United Primary School—established in 1955 and the only school serving the community—have either been demolished or marked for destruction, raising fears of displacement, educational disruption, and rising insecurity.
The constituency representative, Hon. Seun Adesanya, said the visit was not politically motivated but aimed at reassuring residents that government institutions were aligned in seeking a lawful and peaceful resolution. He urged residents to remain calm and avoid self-help, insisting that both the legislative and executive arms were engaged.
“This is not a one-man fight. Government is with you, but we must do this the right way,” Adesanya said.
Adding historical weight to the dispute, retired Major General S. A. Odunsi traced the conflict to 1977, revealing that multiple military panels and petitions over the decades had recommended limiting the barracks to a smaller, clearly defined area. He disclosed that a controversial 1989 gazette expanding the land was rejected by an investigative panel, which advised its revocation.
Odunsi further revealed that Army Headquarters, in a 2016 letter, admitted that only a political—rather than military—solution could permanently resolve the issue.
“For nearly 50 years, our people have lived in fear, unable to develop their land. This demolition is reopening a wound that never healed,” he said.
Traditional ruler, the Alapunren of Apunren, Oba Jimoh Owode Oyelaja Gbadewolu Ilufemiloye I, appealed for cooperation with lawmakers and urged residents to avoid prolonged court battles.
As peaceful protests continue and demolitions persist, pressure is now squarely on the Ogun State House of Assembly to translate its assurances into concrete action—testing the balance between military authority and civilian land rights in Nigeria’s democratic era.