Hundreds of travellers were stranded on Sunday as protesting farmers blocked the Lagos-Ore expressway in Ondo State, decrying alleged forceful eviction from their farmlands in the Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo Local Government Area.
The farmers accused SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, allegedly owned by Ayo Sotinrin—recently appointed as Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture—of displacing them with the backing of Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Displaying placards with inscriptions like “Tinubu, Save Farmers from Sotinrin” and “Rotimi Wemimo Must Go,” the farmers demanded justice and called for the removal of both officials, citing abuse of power and conflict of interest.
“We’ve farmed here for over 20 years, paid levies, and even got a court injunction against this eviction. Still, SAO continues to destroy our farmlands,” said Musafiu Irewolede, one of the protesting farmers.
They warned that over 15,000 farmers risk losing their livelihoods due to the alleged land grab.
In response, Sotinrin denied the allegations, insisting that SAO Agro-Allied legally acquired the land from the state government and has met all regulatory requirements, including obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy.
