News in brief:
– SAO Agro-Allied says it legally acquired land at Oluwa Forest Reserve, Ondo State, and accuses farmers of illegal occupation.
– The firm urges government intervention, citing tax conflicts and threats to investment from ongoing protests.
SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited has accused farmers protesting alleged forced eviction in Ondo State of illegally occupying portions of the Oluwa Forest Reserve in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The accusation follows a mass protest staged by the farmers 24 hours earlier, claiming they were being forcibly removed from land they had been farming for years.
Speaking at a press briefing in Akure, the Vice President of SAO Agro-Allied, Mr. David Olijogun, insisted that the firm had obtained the land legally from the Ondo State Government in 2021. He noted that the company was issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) and had fulfilled all financial obligations associated with the land acquisition.
Former CEO not involved in dispute
Olijogun also addressed speculations surrounding the involvement of the company’s former CEO, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, who is now the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA). According to him, Sotinrin resigned from SAO Agro-Allied on April 7, 2025, and is not connected to the ongoing land dispute.
The firm’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Uthama Seelan Kandasamy, warned that the presence and activities of illegal occupants, most of whom he claimed are non-indigenes, could scare away both local and foreign investors. He called for urgent government intervention to protect legitimate businesses in the state.
Tax dispute fuels tension
In a related development, the Executive Secretary of the Red Gold Forum, Mr. Henry Oladunjoye, blamed the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) for fueling the crisis. He accused the agency of double-dealing by collecting taxes from both SAO Agro-Allied and the farmers, further complicating the situation.
The company and its affiliates have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the federal government to intervene and provide clarity and security to avoid discouraging agricultural investment in the region.
Recall that this publication reported the lawsuit that 10,000 farmers brought against the state government in 2023, regarding this issue. It appears that the issue is far from settled.
