IBADAN — Staff members of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have raised alarm over what they described as the forceful invasion of their landed properties in Ibadan by suspected land speculators, alleging threats to life and destruction of property.
The affected workers petitioned the Oyo State Real Property Protection Agency, accusing the alleged invaders of breach of peace, malicious damage and intimidation.
In a petition dated Dec. 11, 2025, and written by their solicitor, Ademola Sodamade, the employees named Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Mrs Oluwamayowa Ayinde and Mr Adewale Owoade among the landowners affected by the development.
According to the petition, some land speculators allegedly led by one Mr Kazim, popularly known as Abija, were said to have invaded the property without authorisation, removing all the beacons and signposts demarcating the land.
The workers explained that they collectively purchased 35 acres of land at Butubutu Village in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State between 2013 and 2014 under a cooperative housing arrangement.
“After the perfection of the purchase, my clients partitioned the land and sold it to different individuals, majority of whom are staff of the News Agency of Nigeria, Ibadan branch.
“Surprisingly, however, about a few months ago, Mr Kazim, popularly known as Abija, the Mogaji of Ile Aje in Ode-Aje, Ibadan, forcefully entered the land.
“He removed and carted away some of the signposts and destroyed some of the pillars on the land with a view to selling it to certain individuals.
“He threatened to kill anybody who dared to stop him from carrying out his plans on the sale of the land,” the petition read.
The employees said the alleged invasion had disrupted their long-standing efforts to secure affordable housing through monthly contributions initiated in 2013.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the NAN Housing Scheme, Ibadan Zonal Office, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described the situation as disturbing and dangerous.
“It is very sad and disturbing that some hoodlums, under the guise of working for the state government, can forcefully encroach on the land, destroy all the farm produce, remove all the beacons and signposts installed there and threaten to kill and maim any of us on the site,” Balogun said.
The petitioners appealed to the Oyo State Real Property Protection Agency to urgently intervene and halt what they termed illegal activities on the property.
Copies of the petition, including purchase agreements, land surveys, photographs and other relevant documents, were also forwarded to the Olubadan Committee on Land Grabbing in the Office of the Deputy Governor and the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, among others, for necessary action.
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