The Ondo State Government has declared zero tolerance for land grabbing, warning that individuals involved in illegal land acquisition will face strict prosecution in 2026.
The Ondo State Government has reaffirmed its resolve to clamp down on land grabbing across the state, warning that offenders will be prosecuted without compromise.
Chairman of the state’s Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force and Attorney General, Dr Kayode Ajulo, issued the warning on Saturday following the maiden meeting of the task force held in Akure, the state capital.
In a statement released on Sunday, Ajulo said the government would enforce the Ondo State Properties Protection and Its Documentation Law, 2024, to curb land-related crimes across the state’s 18 local government areas.
He noted that 2026 has been declared a decisive year in the fight against land grabbing, stressing that the grace period granted to offenders expired in 2025.
“There will be zero tolerance for land grabbing activities across Ondo State. Anyone involved should understand that this year will be different,” Ajulo said.
According to him, the task force has compiled the names of individuals identified through investigations as being deeply involved in land grabbing and other related illegal activities.
“In 2026, we are going all out against them. The law will be enforced strictly and without compromise,” he added.
Ajulo warned that illegal land sales, multiple sales of the same land by owning families, intimidation of lawful landowners and forceful land acquisition would no longer be tolerated.
He said anyone found guilty of such offences would be arrested and prosecuted in line with existing laws.
The Attorney General commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for addressing land-related fraud through the enactment of the Ondo State Properties Protection and Its Documentation Law, which criminalises land grabbing and provides a legal framework for protecting property owners.
Meanwhile, tensions over land disputes have continued to surface in parts of the state. In December, farmers from the Oluwa Forest Reserve in Odigbo Local Government Area protested alleged harassment and intimidation by suspected land grabbers.
The farmers, who marched to the Governor’s Office, claimed the alleged attacks had prevented them from accessing farmlands legally allocated to them by the state government.
